Breach discovered at Tallinn Prison leads to uncovering of larger drug crime

TALLINN - A violation discovered at Tallinn Prison in mid-February led officials to uncover a major drug crime outside the detention facility.

On April 8, officials of the information and investigation department of Tallinn Prison detained a man as a suspect and searched the property he was using, where a large quantity of various suspected narcotic substances was found. An expert analysis will determine exactly what the substances are and how large the final quantities are. The man has been taken into custody for two months.

The roots of the proceedings date back to Feb. 13, when Tallinn Prison officials checked a woman who had come for a long-term visit. Namely, the prison suspected that she might be carrying objects or substances prohibited in a place of detention hidden in her body cavities, which turned out to be true.

"The criminal proceedings initiated in connection with the incident led prison officials to further action outside the prison, which resulted in the aforementioned arrest and search last week," the prison service said.

The prison service is not just a custodial institution, but also an investigative institution that has the right and obligation under the law to investigate crimes committed in prison or by prisoners. If a person outside the prison provides assistance in committing a crime, then officials of the prison information and investigation department also work during the proceedings to ensure that the accomplices are held accountable.

"For this, we use the powers arising from the Code of Criminal Procedure, if there is a corresponding basis, it is also possible to collect evidence through surveillance activities. Physical evidence and clues can include fingerprints, DNA, and collected information. At that, there is close cooperation with the prosecutor's office and the police," the prison service said.