Zombie drug lords prey on lags’ families
PRISON drug barons are threatening the families of lags who run up huge debts behind bars.
They target their relatives, demanding they pay back any money owed – sometimes tens of thousands of pounds.
The ruthless dealers are making a fortune from so-called “zombie” drugs such as Spice. Packages costing £400 can be worth £20,000 inside – a 5,000% profit.
The warning comes from the Prison Officers Association (POA).
It says mind-bending
New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) are mostly to blame.
Glyn Travis of the POA said: “The banning of legal highs has sparked a surge in demand.
“This is making the inmates who run these rackets in prison – the crime lords – richer than ever.
“We are receiving reports that profit margins are so high organised crime is operating inside jails.
“They are using smuggled phones to order contraband from 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.”
He added that officers believe jail gangs are pursuing inmates’ families for drug debts. “We have been told associates of criminals inside jail are collecting debts for them.
“The suggestion is they get heavy with the prisoners’ family to pay up for mobiles or drugs.”
The POA say their fears are based on evidence from branch officials inside jails. Previously, the Daily Star Sunday has reported how one inmate’s family was threatened over a £20,000 drug debt.
In a menacing letter to the lag’s mum, a drug baron wrote: “I’ve tried to be good to him, treated him well, but now my patience is at an end. This is his last chance. If my £275 and my pal’s £50 ain’t put in the correct accounts by next Friday your fella is going to get served up.
“Honestly, I’m not joking with you, if that money’s not in he will be getting cut to pieces.”
Documents obtained by this paper reveal the staggering profits to be had from NPS.
A report noted an incident at category C Stocken prison, near Oakham, Rutland.
A memo 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 incident involving the formerly legal Spice occurred at Wayland prison, Norfolk.
A report said: “During a targeted cell search staff found a quantity of drugs, believed to be Spice, with an estimated value of £1,500.
The synthetic drugs mimic the effects of cannabis but can cause convulsions.
Last week, the HM Prisons and Probation Service’s annual report warned that cons were targeting officers to pay off debts.
It said some inmates were smoking up to £800 worth of Spice daily.