1,000 contraband items seized after crackdown at 5 Georgia prisons

FORSYTH,Ga. — A shakedown at five Georgia prisons resulted in the seizure of more than 1,000 items including weapons, cellphones and methamphetamine.

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The Georgia Department of Corrections conducted an unannounced shakedown at Coastal, Central, Dooly, Lee and Valdosta state prisons.

The crackdown was aimed at getting rid of dangerous contraband. The department said the items could be used by inmates to perform criminal acts inside the prison.

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The items seized include:

• 210 cellphones
• 241 cellphone chargers
• 647 weapons
• 1420.6 grams of marijuana
• 2557.3 grams of tobacco
• 289.9 grams of methamphetamine
• 66.5 ounces of alcohol
• 142 pills

“We have taken an aggressive approach to ridding our facilities of these items, when, in the hands of inmates can create an unsafe environment,” said Commissioner Timothy C. Ward. “We will continue to be steadfast in this approach and others we may find to be useful, in upholding our non-negotiable mission of protecting the public.”

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The department says facility shakedowns will continue in the future throughout the state.

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