Knife, Cars Seized as Police Crack Down on Prison Smugglers
Police launched a tough new operation on Tuesday, December 20, targeting illegal items sneaked into HMP Nottingham. Officers recovered a knife and seized three vehicles during the first swoop.
Dogs Sniff Out Drugs and Contraband
Sniffer dogs and search teams patrolled the visitor’s car park on prison grounds, hunting for cannabis resin, vapes, SIM cards, and memory cards being smuggled in.
Sgt. Jordan Hinds, who led the raid, said: “Most visitors aren’t involved in crime – they’re here to see loved ones. But a small minority try to bring in illegal items to make big money.”
He added: “We won’t let that happen. More operations will follow to catch and prosecute offenders.”
Why Drugs and Gadgets Matter Behind Bars
Prisoners pay up to nine times street prices for drugs in jail. Resin blocks are popular because they don’t smell as much. But police dogs’ noses don’t lie.
- SIM cards help prisoners run criminal networks from their cells.
- Memory cards turn basic TVs into Smart TVs, allowing more illicit contact.
The First Haul: Three Cars and a Knife
During the initial search, officers stopped visitors before entry. Three cars were seized – one driver had no licence, another’s licence was expired, and a third had a provisional licence but was unsupervised.
A knife was also confiscated from a vehicle.
“Most visitors were fine with our presence,” Sgt. Hinds said. “But some clearly didn’t like it. We even noticed some suspicious phone calls being made.”
He warned: “If this puts people off bringing illegal items into HMP Nottingham, it’s a success. We’re planning more operations in the new year.”
Prison Boss Backs the Blitz
HMP Nottingham Governor Paul Yates said: “Security is our top priority. With body scanners, cell searches, sniffer dogs, and close police cooperation, we’re stopping illegal items that fuel crime and violence inside the prison.”
