Deadly drugs being ‘passed between cells using toilets’ at city prison Allegations follow four inmate deaths as local MP calls for urgent inquiry
DRUGS are allegedly being sold on to inmates in HMP Birmingham using pipes between toilets in cells.
Former legal highs known as ‘black mamba’ or ‘spice’ have become drugs of choice for criminals at the Winson Green jail, but have had devastating effects.
The G4S-run prison has been rocked by four deaths in a month, with two suspected of being linked to the synthetic highs.
It is claimed that drug use is so rife that prison officers have been treated for the effects of secondary smoking.
There are also claims of multiple inmates collapsing after taking the drugs, which were made illegal following a series of deaths in the UK.
Now it is claimed that once drugs are smuggled into the prison they are being sold on between cells via toilets.
A source said: “Cells on top of each other can pass the drugs from one to another by using torn sheets as ropes and flushing the toilets at the same time. The level of spice and mamba in the prison is massive.
“But the contents of the drugs vary from batch to batch. Some just make users giggly like they are drunk. But other batches can be very dangerous. A very dangerous batch hit the city recently.”
A fourth HMP Birmingham inmate recently died in just one month after allegedly taking drugs smuggled in through his toilet.
Andrew Carr, 23, was found dead in his cell in the prison’s segregation unit where inmates are supposed to face increased security checks.
It is understood he may have taken drugs smuggled into his cell via his toilet, potentially black mamba or spice.
If confirmed, his death would be the second linked to suspected drug use at the G4S-run jail in a month. Sources claim the prison is being ‘flooded’ with the synthetic highs, with multiple inmates lapsing.
Another inmate died in a suspected suicide in recent weeks, while another passed away from natural causes.
Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood called for an urgent inquiry into the privately-run jail, which has suffered two serious riots in the last two years.
He said: “These riots and these deaths in such a short space of time are continuing to bring the security of the prison into question.
“There are not enough officers to deal with these tions.
“It’s very important that this situation is taken very seriously and I would like to see the Ministry of Justice carry out an inquiry into these deaths in such a short period of time, and the drugs problem at the prison.”
Rob Kellett, director at HMP Birmingham said: “Every death in custody is a tragedy and is always thoroughly investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.
“While the recent deaths at HMP Birmingham are believed to be unrelated events, investigations are currently ongoing and it would not be appropriate to comment further.
“The welfare of prisoners in our custody is a top priority, and our dedicated staff work in challenging circumstances to ensure that appropriate support is in place for prisoners, and that we are doing our upmost to detect and intercept drugs and other contraband.
“We have recently invested in significant upgrades to our drug detection equipment and we review and refresh our searching processes on a regular basis.”
He added: “We continue to work closely with partners, including West Midlands Police and the Regional Prison Investigation Team, to find and prosecute those responsible for bringing contraband into prisons, and this has already led to several people being arrested and charged this year.” col- prison situa-
Cells on top of each other can pass the drugs from one to another by using torn sheets as ropes Prison source