A lockdown remains in effect this week at Warkworth Institution in the Municipality of Trent Hills, Ont.,
According to the Correctional Service of Canada on Thursday morning, a lockdown was put in place on Aug. 1 at the medium-level federal prison to enable staff members to conduct an exceptional search.
Global News Peterborough required additional details on the lockdown.
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Mike Shrider, regional communications manager for the CSC, says the institutional head called for the search following the discovery of “large amounts of contraband.”
The CSC also said a handgun was not found. A viewer email to Global News suggested the firearm discovery prompted the search.
“The search was ordered to ensure the safety and security of the institution, its staff, and inmates,” he stated.
During an exceptional search, offender movement in the areas of the search is often limited to their cells, he noted.
Visits to the prison located 60 kilometres southeast of Peterborough have been suspended until the search is completed, Shrider said.
“Normal operations will resume as soon as it is considered safe to do so,” he said.
More to come.