Brit prisons in grip of a booming drug trade

London, June 23 : Shocking figures have revealed that most prisons in Britain are in the grip of a booming drug trade.

According to The Sun, jail staff has made a record 15,000 seizures of cannabis, heroin and cocaine in the past three years.

The trade has become a multi-million pound industry, with new statistics released under Freedom of Information laws showing a 12 per cent rise in seizures since 2005.

Drugs barons now see jails as a viable option for delivery of consignments, while others do business with insiders over mobiles.

The figures come six months after a government crackdown was launched, with Justice Secretary Jack Straw vowing to unleash sniffer dogs to root out drugs.

One in six inmates at some jails have tested positive for heroin, recent Ministry of Justice figures have shown, and only 38 out of 139 prisons have been declared clear of drugs.

Earlier this month, a report said prisons are so cushy that 37,000 lags refused early release - and 42 tried to break in.

ANI