GDC Contraband Interdiction Efforts Continue in Fourth Quarter 2019

FORSYTH, Ga. —  The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) strives to prevent contraband from entering our facilities on daily basis.  Our efforts to combat contraband have been made possible through our continuing improvements in our front-line staff training, technological methods, and full facility shakedowns which resulted in the seizure of 8,393 contraband items during the fourth quarter of 2019.

“We stand committed in our continuing efforts to bring justice to those who pose a threat to the safe and secure operations of our facility,” said Commissioner Timothy C. Ward.   “We applaud the work of our GDC staff who remain vigilant in detecting contraband inside our facilities.”

Through the collaboration of our Office of Professional Standards, GDC Tactical Squads and K9 Units, the following items were confiscated between October and December 2019:

• 2563 cell phones
• 478 cell phone chargers
• 2563 handmade weapons
• 7,142.53 grams of marijuana (24 bags/balloons)
• 106,366.92 grams of tobacco (1150 bags/balloons)
• 3,334.39 grams of methamphetamine (107 bags/balloons)
• 1057.30 grams of cocaine (3 bag)
• 3,212.50 ounces of alcohol (44 bottles)
• 303 pills
• 20 syringes
• 17 SIM/SD cards  

The GDC also conducted shakedown operations to detect 1,121 items in the fourth quarter of 2019. A total of 14 shakedowns were completed at 14 of the 35 state prisons

Third quarter shakedown seizures included:

• 136 cell phones
• 877 handmade weapons
• 705.70 grams of marijuana (12 occurrences)
• 1691.71 grams of tobacco (11 occurrences)
• 1046.80 grams of cocaine/ecstasy (1 occurrences)
• 224.70 grams of methamphetamine (4 occurrences)
• 522.50 ounce of homemade alcohol (3 occurrences)
• 77 unidentified pills

To report staff and inmates involved in criminal activity please click here.

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About the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC)

The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 52,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees. For more information on the GDC, call 478-992-5247 or visit https://gdc.ga.gov