Maafushi prison riots again! Who rules the roost?

This article in haveeru ( link..http://www.haveeru.com.mv/?page=details&id=79042) definitely throws light to our deterioting prison situation.
Many things stuck me as I read the article. First of all that there were over 235 prisoners in Unit 2, reflecting a case of probable overcrowding.

They all seem very organised, focussed and united in this riot. They also have a leadership in their 'Daadas'. The security personnel seems obviously unable to manage the situation and seem to be just observing as the prisoners continue to damage the prison property, and injure the staff. Worst, I cannot see any other newspaper report so far on this prison situation which apparently is ongoing from last night? Why is it not being brought to the attention of the public and why is the media avoiding reporting on this situation? Why has action not been taken to control the riots so far?

We all know that in the Maldives, majority of prisoners are drug addicts who have not had the opportunity for rehabilitation and many of us have heard stories that drugs are easily available at the prisons .

This particular report through the security staff who wishes to remain anonymous, has publicised the modus operandi of how drugs are brought in to the prison, educating and making the public aware on how the prisoners get access to drugs. I can very well believe this story.

What many of us often do not realise is that prisoners who are hooked on heroin or such highly addictive drugs will go to great lengths to make sure they get their drugs. Just see this case. ...I have often been amazed by the extent to which this sort of criminal behaviour is organised. I say this based on my experience of working at Drug rehabilitation centres, both in Maldives and in some neighbouring countries.

The fact that prison is located in an inhabited island, has led to the involvement of the island community, which will either house drug pushers who would bring the drugs to the island to supply to the prison community or visitors will birng the occassional shipments and deliver it through people who are connected to the prisoners.

Addicts have swollowed heroin, packed in condoms and would later collect the same after passing their faeces. Heroin packets have been brought inside rehab centres hidden in the base of iced cakes sent to addicts on their birthdays. Packets hidden in the bottom of the sea has been collected by addicts when they go for their regular swims. Shops had to be started inside rehab centres to avoid the inmates from receiving heroin packets hidden inside toothpaste tubes, shampoo bottles etc; sent by family members.

So addicts are always developing innovative ways to traffic drugs to their drug using communities.

Look at this situtation in Maafishi prison now. They make a call to the pusher in Male', who makes a call to the bigger dealer,....who connect with the trafficker....based on the size of the shipment they decide how to deliver. By making a single call , the prisoner or daada can connect with his gangs in Male' who would handle everything, even the money transactions can be completed and like in this case, it will be delivered by launch and dumped either at sea or brought into land by the pusher..who ( as I am expanding on the situation so far given.....this is hypothetical) with the help of locals will draw up a map on the delivery time and place and throw details inside the prison or either pass this information via phone or staff.

We have to admit that while all staff are not dishonest, as a number of people enter and leave a prison every day, there may be people who will compromise their morals in the face of money. Unfortunately, in this situation the delivery failed to reach the prisoners, angered and frustrated the prisoners, triggering them to riot.

It is actually amazing that this report stated that the prisoners actually had requested the staff to bring their drugs into the prison??? Does it mean that this had happened in the past and the staff had obeyed them?????? We don't know these details yet.

There are so many questions we can ask. How do the prisoners get access to phones. Well....anyone who has been to the prison can answer that question. I knew of a guy who use to hide his small mobile phone inside his anus...ya...and would remove it to give a call? Pipe in a wire through the anus.... to show blood in the faeces to get out and go out to hospital where he will meet the pushers and collect the drugs.

Cannot believe it? Another guy will swallow the lighter and come back....pass it in faeces and collect it later to chase the dragon. For some of us this may be news....but for those who know what I am talking about they will have bigger tales to tell.

The fact is, the prisoners, seem to be more organised and capable than the security and the management appears to be rather helpless at the moment and the prisoners know who rule the roost.

Lets see how this situation is handled. This is a moment to test the intergrity of a number of people and also trust the capability of staff who have been trained to handle such situations. It is a time for action, reform and patience.