Prison Journalism: Uncovering the contraband network

Prison Journalism: Uncovering the contraband networkJean-Pierre Le-Roux is a divorced father of two beautiful children. He was incarcerated for 20 months for pointing a firearm.

by Jean-Pierre Le-Roux

22-03-2024 11:46

in Prison Journalism

Prison Image: Unsplash

After I got into the happenings in jail, I quickly started seeing things happening. Like when they smoke or do drugs, so I wanted to know where I could also get my tobacco, drugs, etc., as I am an addict. Above all, I needed to get my drugs, as I came to see how easy it is to get my smokes and drugs inside jail.

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The Black Market in Jail All I needed to do was get a Shoprite voucher or swap out my food for tobacco. Anything inside is currency: your clothes, your food, your everything is for sale. So, I went about this by first selling my bread for tobacco, and so it started! I was very intrigued by how easy it is to get exactly what you want or need inside. So, I started to ask how to go about getting to use one of the phones that go around. These are illegal phones that get smuggled into jail, by the way. I started asking around as to how this is done, but this is very shadowed by secrecy inside jail.

They don't just give out this information so easily, especially not to a newcomer. So, I knew I needed to find a way for them to trust me inside, for them to tell me how it is done. Remembering that just last week, I got smacked by a high-ranking officer, and before that, when I first came in, I got all my food taken away from me by getting fooled. So, I needed to be very careful not to get myself into any trouble. I took my time to just sit, watch, and see how, when, and where the tobacco, drugs, and phones are appearing. And it did not take me very long to realize that every time the guys came back from court, then that same night, I noticed that from the cell, the guys that came from court, there was smoke coming out every time, no fail.

The Secrets of Contraband So, one day, I thought, let me go closer to ask and see what they say? Oh my lord, that was so difficult. I got asked why I am asking so many questions, who's this info for, what are they paying me for this info? So, I was very confused. I didn't know what they were thinking about. So, I asked who's this they' is referring to, and I found out that the wardens actually pay some newcomers to give them info on the smuggling, rather accounts of drugs, 3 phones coming in, phones going out, back to court. So now, I knew. I had just uncovered it: it is when they go to court! That is when they get stuff in from the outside world to buy it in for the other inmates!

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DISCLAIMER: Submission published as received

Should you wish to assist in the rehabilitation of former inmates and help put money into the pockets of those who have struggled to earn a living during and after incarceration, click HERE

RESTORE is an NGO based in Cape Town, South Africa, providing inmates at Pollsmoor Prison with restorative justice opportunities.

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