Prisoners allegedly busted with phones at Innisfail work camp
TWO prisoners, including a former Bandidos boss, have been charged after allegedly being busted with contraband mobile phones at a Far North prison work camp.
A joint investigation has been launched by the Queensland Corrective Service’s investigation unit and police after Damien Squizy Van Taarling, 35, and a second 37-year-old prisoner, were allegedly found with the phones at the low security Lotus Glen Correctional Centre camp on the outskirts of Innisfail.
The pair, who were understood to have been on the brink of parole, have subsequently been returned to the high security facility at Mareeba.
Van Taarling, a one-time sergeant-at-arms for the Bandidos, is serving an eight-year sentence for drug possession and weapons offences after he was busted hiding $70,000 worth of methylamphetamines in a washing machine at a Brisbane residence in 2018.
He previously served jail time for drug offences committed in Cairns.
He and the other prisoner are due to face the Innisfail Magistrates Court on May 31.
A police spokeswoman
confirmed they were both charged on Thursday with dealing with prohibited things and contravening an order about device information from a digital service.
She said investigations were ongoing.
Police have not confirmed whether the pair had used the phones and, if so, who they had been contacting.
A QCS spokeswoman confirmed the incident.
“QCS works closely with QPS to prevent contraband entering our facilities, and locating and removing contraband that does enter,” she said.
“When the contraband was located, all of the prisoners at the camp were returned to Lotus Glen Correctional Centre while the matter was investigated.
“The prisoners who have been charged in relation to the contraband have been returned to high security.”