Prison staff accused of smuggling phones used to run drug operations behind bars

Summarised by Centrist

A corruption investigation involving North Island prisons has grown to 141 charges against 24 people, with prison staff accused of accepting cash to smuggle phones, drugs, tobacco and other contraband to inmates.

Police filed another 33 charges in the Auckland District Court on Monday, adding to the 108 laid in May. 

The bribery and corruption charges required the Attorney-General’s consent to prosecute.

Operation Jasper began in July 2025 as an investigation into prisoners at Mt Eden Corrections Facility who were allegedly organising drug imports and transactions from inside the prison. Investigators then identified staff allegedly helping to bring contraband through the gates.

“Police believe the phones were used by prisoners to continue drug importation and distribution activities from within the Mt Eden facility,” Detective Inspector Colin Parmenter said when the first arrests were announced.

The investigation later expanded to Auckland South Correctional Facility at Wiri. Reintegration officers employed by private prison operator Serco are accused of smuggling controlled drugs and tobacco into the prison for payment.

Of the 20 people initially charged, police said nine were Corrections officers at Mt Eden, one was an officer at Spring Hill Corrections Facility, five were Serco reintegration officers and five were members of the public associated with prisoners. Four more people have since been added to the case.

Other allegations include conspiracies to sell cannabis and supply methamphetamine to Mt Eden inmates.

All 24 defendants have interim name suppression. The suppression issue is expected to be reconsidered in October, with a case review scheduled for December. 

The charges remain allegations and have not been proven in court.

Read more at the Daily Telegraph NZ

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