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Crime bosses make money in prison drug deals

The newly instituted ban on the drugs formerly known as legal highs has provided crime bosses with a huge boost in profits inside UK prisons.

Prison officers claim that they are struggling to cope with a flood of dangerous synthetic substances with names like Spice, despite a universal ban, which came into force in May. According to Glyn Travis, the assistant secretary of the Prison Officers Association, the ban has resulted in a huge demand for the drugs. This means that inmates able to supply the substances are earning more money than ever, so much so that crime inside UK prisons has become organised. He cited one instance of criminals earning as much as £20,000 for the drugs which only have a value of £400 outside the prison. Another instance was a stash of the substances found in a prisoner’s belongings, which had a prison value of £30,000.

Of the prisoners dealing in the drugs, Mr Travis said, “They use smuggled mobiles to order in contraband from criminal associates outside. The contents of the parcels cost next to nothing, but in prison they are worth a fortune. The knock-on effect is that turf wars and violence increases and security is compromised.”

Prison officers also believe that criminal gangs are harassing the families of inmates to collect on the drugs debts that they have run up inside. The Ministry of Justice has highlighted this situation in a series of reports.

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