Prison officers say they’re “disgusted” by the behaviour of one of their number, who was arrested during an alleged attempt to smuggle drugs into Westgate Correctional Facility.

The 39-year-old was caught with what’s believed to be cocaine, heroin and cannabis in his hollowed-out shoe when he was searched by Police near the prison entrance last Friday.

The officer has since resigned from his job at the Department of Corrections, which he’d held for three-and-a-half years.

The Royal Gazette understands he is likely to face charges of possessing drugs with intent to supply.

Speaking out over the incident yesterday, Prison Officers’ Association chairman Craig Clarke said: “It’s an unfortunate situation. The Prison Officers’ Association and our members don’t stand for officers being involved in nefarious activity.

”I spoke in person to the officer and the individual has resigned. I was not happy, not pleased with his decisions. He’s discredited the department and I want to assure people that you can’t judge one officer for his actions and paint the [same] brush over all officers.

”Most are professional officers who do good work in their jobs.”

Mr. Clarke believes it’s the only arrest of this nature that’s occurred in the past ten years, and hopes it will send a strong message to others.

”I’m sure justice will take its course. He’s violated the trust of the Department of Corrections. I’m disgusted. It’s an indictment on that individual, but the department does investigate officers and does seek to weed out officers who do things like this,” he said.

Mr. Clarke added that the department is working with Public Safety Minister David Burch to clamp down on drugs in prisons.

”We’ve fortified the perimeters, they’re being watched nightly by an independent security firm, we will be able to control this eventually,” he pledged.

Commissioner of Prisons Edward Lamb: ”On Friday last, Police officers stopped and searched one of our officers near the entrance to the Westgate Correctional Facility.

”Whilst it is strongly believed that the items seized are indeed illicit drugs, the Police are in the process of analysing the substances confiscated and therefore, I am not in a position to confirm what they were, nor the quantity.

”It is my understanding that the officer is facing criminal charges and that he is due to report to the Police in a few weeks for the next step in the process. I am happy to clarify that no other officers or staff are involved in this matter.”

Lt. Col. Lamb added: ”At the beginning of this week, he tendered his resignation, effective immediately, following which he was escorted to Westgate to collect his belongings. I can therefore confirm that he is no longer employed with the Department of Corrections.”

The arrest is the second embarrassing incident to hit the prison service in recent months.

In July, prisoner Alvone Maybury escaped from two officers as they escorted him from Magistrates’ Court, where he’d been charged with gun offences.

Maybury, 24, was dubbed the Facebook Fugitive and hit the international headlines after updating his social networking page with his exploits on the run.

He was arrested two weeks later and has admitted escaping custody, though he denies the gun charges.

Mr. Clarke said an investigation continues into the circumstances of that incident.

”I would not want to comment on something ongoing. From the initial investigation, we have taken other steps on how we transport and escort inmates,” he said. “I stand by the officers. It’s something that happened. They’re senior, very good officers. I support them in situations like that. You can never say who’s going to run and when.”