A Christmas crackdown on drug smugglers at Westgate has netted five arrests as Acting Prisons Commissioner Hubert Dean pledged to keep up the hunt for narcotics within prison walls.

Extra Police dogs were drafted in to help as relatives and friends paid seasonal visits to inmates.

Mr Dean told : ?Five people were arrested trying to bring concealed drugs into the facility at Christmas although I don?t know what the drugs were.

?We have been blitzing this place for the last month or so and have had security teams going in, they have been very active but we have not found too much.?

He said illegal cell phones had been confiscated during the crackdown.

?But there is no evidence, particularly in Westgate, of any drugs but I am sure they are there.

?We have not found it and the dogs haven?t found it either.?

Staff and inmates are being searched upon entry, said Mr. Dean.

?Everyone is on their guard right now but if we don?t let up maybe we can get on top of this.

?We are taking steps and the Police are assisting us.?

He said dealing with inmates high on drugs was a safety concern for other prisoners and staff.

?We have some staff who are diligent and want to do their jobs but they cannot do it when at risk of being assaulted by someone under the influence of drugs.?

Mr Dean said getting on top of the drug issue had been a goal even before he retired as Assistant Commissioner in mid-2002 before returning to head the service after John Prescod was sacked.

His initial six-month contract was extended after Government and staff praised his performance.

He said the service only had two dogs ? one for Westgate and one for the prison farm.

Asked if it was sufficient he said: ?Quite frankly, no. We would do well to have an additional dog, we are taking steps to do that.

?We have submitted a request for an additional dog in the budget next year.?

However Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Randy Horton indicated there would be no extra money for the dog.

He confirmed there were small quantities of drugs picked up on Christmas Day but was unable to say what they were.

?Because of the increased volume of traffic of people coming to see inmates at Christmas and the vigilance of the Police we were able to stop five people and arrest them.?