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Holdall with £26k drug haul thrown into HMP Rochester in Fort Road

More than £25,000 of drugs were thrown over the wall at Rochester prison in a bright yellow holdall.

The bag was thrown into the site in Fort Road and was “spotted straight away”.

It is understood the contraband dropped in while inmates were being moved around the site, so they were out of their cells.

HMP Rochester
HMP Rochester

But no inmates were able to get access to the haul, which was seized by officers.

According to a source there were various drugs inside the holdall which also contained a number of mobile phones and sim cards.

The drugs had an estimated street value of £26,000.

The prison authorities are investigating the incident and have informed Kent Police of their find.

A source, who did not want to be named, said: “There was an assortment of drugs inside, valued at £26,000.

“If they had got into the hands of the inmates and sold inside, then that value would be much higher. The inmates were being moved around the site at the time when the bag was thrown over.

"There was an assortment of drugs inside, valued at £26,000. If they had got into the hands of the inmates and sold inside, then that value would be much higher" - Prison source

“It was a bright yellow holdall and was spotted straight away.”

Last Sunday morning two inmates got on top of the chapel roof at the jail and hurled tiles to the ground.

It was believed to be a protest for other inmates stuck in hot cells as temperatures soared.

It is understood the pair were brought down at about 2.30pm.

A prison service spokesperson confirmed the incident happened, but said it was resolved quickly.

In November 2016, the service set out a range of measures in the Prison Safety and Reform White Paper to tackle violence, drugs and mobile phones, as well as increasing staffing levels by 2,500 prison officers.

A prison service spokesman added: "Staff at HMP Rochester successfully intercepted a parcel containing drugs and other contraband from entering the prison on Thursday, June 8. It is a criminal offence to smuggle mobile phones or drugs into prisons, and we will always take action where there is evidence of misconduct.”

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