Mobiles Found In "bangkok Hilton"

CRIME BANG KWANG PRISON

Smuggled phones, SIM cards seized during prison search

PONGKAN CHONGCHAIHARN

A number of mobile phones and SIM cards were seized during a surprise search at Bang Kwang prison in Nonthaburi province yesterday. The search was part of the prison's attempts to prevent inmates from running illicit drug operations from behind prison walls.

Prison commander Sopon Thititam-pruek said there were frequent attempts to smuggle mobile phones and SIM cards into the prison compound, because Bang Kwang housed a large number of drug dealers.

Many of them continued to run their drug rings from inside the prison, he said.

Bribery was believed to be rife as many drug convicts serving long sentences had developed close ties with prison guards over the years.

Threats were even made against some prison guards and their families if they refused to cooperate with those convicts or to turn a blind eye to their illegal activities, he said.

Inmates had come up with novel ways to smuggle mobile phones and SIM cards into their prison cells.

``We have found a mobile phone hidden in food, in pork leg stew. SIM cards were found inside a dried squid. One was found stuffed inside a dead toad which was thrown over the prison wall,'' he said.

The prison was jolted on Sept 19 when two SIM cards were found inside a dried squid during a check on a package delivered to Somsak Yala, a drug convict on death row.

A search of a package sent to convict Pairote Niamlang found a SIM card hidden inside a lotion bottle.

Since early this year 24 smuggled mobile phones had been found in the jail, wrapped in rubber sheets and hidden in toilet tanks.

source; bangkokpost.com