It’s congratulations all round at the Woodford Correctional Centre after newly arrived Luka uncovered $1.2 million worth of illegal drugs smuggled into the Centre in his first few weeks on the job.
Luka might have only just mastered his job but as a Queensland Corrective Services’ Passive Alert Drug Detection dog, he started his career on a high when a serious amount of drugs and other prohibits were secretly brought into the Woodford Correctional Centre.
PADD dog Luka and his handler Nicole, who had just joined the Delta Unit last May, were on hand and ready to roll when the suspected visitor arrived at the centre, unknown that a gathering of Intelligence Officers were on the scene anticipating his attempted crime.
With Luka sniffing out the presence of contraband which verified the information, the Intelligence Officers gathered and Queensland Police Service were informed.
The visitor was arrested.
Luka’s intervention justifies the vital role Queensland’s Corrective Services’ dog squad play in maintaining safety at Corrections facilities.
Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan congratulated the Dog Squad and Intelligence Officers for their vigilance in the drug intercept.
“Queensland Corrective Services’ dog squad is highly skilled, ranks among the best in the world and is a strategic weapon in keeping our correctional centres and communities secure and safe among other security measures like intelligence gathering,” Mr Ryan said.
“I want to congratulate PADD Dog Luka and his handler Nicole for detecting the drugs and validating the intel gathered by officers to keep contraband out of prisons, which is an important part of prisoner rehabilitation and breaking the cycle of offending.”
General Manager of Woodford Correctional Centre, Chief Superintendent Stuart McHaffie said QCS had a zero-tolerance approach to the introduction of drugs into correctional centres.
“Correctional centres are controlled environments for a reason and introducing illicit substances endangers the safety of our officers, prisoners and other visitors,” Chief Superintendent McHaffie said.
“Anyone who tries to bring contraband in will be caught,” he said.
“I want to thank the entire staffing group for their dedication, hard work and commitment to following the intelligence and maintaining good order within the centre and community.”
One person has been charged with two counts of supplying dangerous drugs and taking a prohibited item into a correctional centre.
The alleged offender is due to appear in Caboolture Magistrates Court on 27 July.
