Posted on: Friday, August 10, 2001

Prison shakedown finds small drug stash

By Jean Chow
Advertiser Staff Writer

The second day of the shakedown at O'ahu Community Correctional Center yesterday produced a small amount of drugs believed to be crystal methamphetamine, a prison official said.

Deputy Warden Francis Sequeira said the amount was "very small" and the two inmates in the cell where the drug was found have been placed in a holding unit pending an investigation.

In addition, Sequeira reported that guards found an old, rusted handcuff key under the top layer of an inmate's desk. Officials will determine if the key is still functional.

"It has probably been there for a very long time; it could have been left over from the '80s — it's not a real big thing," Sequeira said.

The surprise shakedown, the first this fiscal year for the facility, began Wednesday as a safety measure.

The search continues today and most likely will conclude by evening. Sequeira said that the prison is pleased with the way the shakedown has progressed.

"We expected more problems with the inmates, but things are going smoothly," he said. "They're going fairly well."