Corrections officers conduct Operation Haven at 18 WA prisons, stopping weapons, drugs from making their way into prison cells

Corrections officers uncovered knives, drugs, knuckle dusters, syringes, and pepper spray during an operation targeting contraband being smuggled into Hakea Prison.

Operation Haven was a blitz carried out across 18 prisons over the weekend, aimed at stopping visitors bringing prohibited items to prisoners.

Officers have conducted more than 130,000 visitor searches so far this year, seizing around 330 items.

Corrections minister Fran Logan said it was imperative weapons be detected before they were able to be smuggled into prisons.

“With a knuckle duster or a knife inside prison, not only could scores be settled and prisoners be injured, prison staff could be killed,” he said.

“Not only will we continue searches such as this into the future, but we will be tightening up regulations about who gets searched.”

“If you're looking to visit your loved ones over Christmas and you've been caught with contraband you will not be seeing them not only at this Christmas, but for a long time.”

Last month Bunbury regional prison went into lockdown after drugs were discovered hidden in the metal workshop.

Corrective services commissioner Tony Hassall said, “anything going into a prison can compromise staff safety and undermines our ability to rehabilitate prisoners and therefore has a knock on in terms of keeping the community safe.”