Crime lords cash in as ban boosts demand and profits JAIL DRUGS ARE A HIGH EARNER

THE ban on legal highs is giving jail drug barons a huge profits boost.

Prison officers say they are struggling to cope with a deluge of dangerous synthetic drugs such as Spice. They were banned in the UK in May.

Glyn Travis, assistant secretary of the Prison Officers Association, said: “The ban has sparked a surge in demand.

“This is making the inmates who run these rackets in prison richer than they’ve ever been.

“Profit margins are so high organised crime is operating inside jails.”

In one instance, criminals are said to have pocketed £20,000 for highs worth just £400 outside the prison walls.

And a stash worth almost £30,000 at inflated jail prices was discovered among a prisoner’s belongings.

Mr Travis added: “They use smuggled mobiles to order in contraband from ANDY GARDNER criminal associates outside. The contents of the parcels cost next to nothing, but in prison they are worth a fortune.

“The knock-on effect is that turf wars and violence increases and security is compromised.”

Officers believe jail gangs are pursuing inmates’ families for drug debts outside prison.

“We have been told that associates of criminals inside jail are collecting debts for them.

“The suggestion is they get heavy with the prisoner’s family to pay up for mobiles or drugs.”

The Ministry of Justice has also highlighted the problem in a series of documents focusing on the profit to be made from the now-illegal highs, known as New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). A report on a recent incident at Category C Stocken prison, near Oakham, Rutland, stated: “A prisoner was received in reception on a draft from Nottingham. “Staff checked a speaker unit in his property and found a quantity of NPS with a local prison value of some £29,000.” A second involving occurred at prison, Norfolk. A report revealed: “During a targeted cell search staff found a quantity of drugs, believed to be Spice, with an estimated value of £1,500. “The two occupants of the cell have been placed on report and the police informed.” Mr Travis said prison staff are struggling to deal with a huge influx of contraband packages. Most contain a mixture of high incident, Spice, Wayland value mobiles, chargers, SIM cards and drugs.

They are frequently thrown over walls at lower security jails.

Another internal document revealed a huge cache of mobiles and drugs was discovered at Ford open prison, in West Sussex.

A memo said: “A bag (was discovered) which contained a quantity of mobiles, chargers, SIM cards, memory sticks, a Bluetooth head piece and a Wi-Fi box.

“During the search a quantity of NPS, steroids and drug paraphernalia was also discovered.”

The emergence of jail cartels based around gangs has been partly blamed for a surge in violence.

Latest figures show 20,518 jail assaults – up from 16,219 in 2014.

Mr Travis added: “The only way to stop contraband coming over the walls is to have an effective security operation.

“Cost-cutting and staff cuts are making this almost impossible to implement.”