Prison guard arrested for drugs remanded in custody

The 58-year-old prison guard who was arrested in possession of drugs while driving to his shift was remanded in custody for a week on Thursday.

The prison guard, who was arrested on Wednesday morning, has been suspended from his post.

This marks the second drug-related arrest of a prison guard recorded in the past few weeks.

The arrest took place after officers, following a tip-off, stopped the car of the 58-year-old prison guard for a check in the area near parliament on Wednesday morning.

A search that was conducted in the car revealed drugs and alcoholic beverages. An unspecified quantity of drugs was also found during a subsequent check at his residence.

In total 15 papers of A4 size believed to be infused with synthetic cannabinoids were found in the possession of the prison guard, AlphaNews reported. Authorities are examining whether he was supplying them to the prisons.

Following the remand of the prison guard, Justice Minister Anna Procopiou vowed that “there will be no cover up” regarding the investigation of the case and its outcome.

“Checks [on prison guards] have been intensified, with the first results being tangible,” she said in a statement on Thursday.

“The cooperation between prison guards and the police is paramount and always within the right legal framework.

“I have already requested that the particular prison guard be suspended while the case is investigated by the police,” Procopiou said.