Package containing $300,000 worth of contraband seized from N.S. prison

Nova Scotia's Springhill Institution is seen in this undated file photo.

There has been another seizure of contraband worth hundreds of thousands of dollars at a federal penitentiary in the Maritimes.

In a release Thursday, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) says staff found a package containing cellphones and accessories, steroids capsules, and THC/hashish at the Springhill Institution on Feb. 19.

The CSC puts the haul’s worth at an estimated institutional value of $300,000.

CTV News forwarded several follow-up questions to the CSC, including whether the package was dropped by a drone and why it took so long to report publicly, but has yet to hear back.

The Nova Scotia RCMP did say it received a report of a person believed to be operating a drone near the medium security institution close to 9 p.m. on Feb. 19, but one of their patrols didn’t find anyone.

It was the third such report investigated by the RCMP in recent weeks. On Jan. 25 and Feb. 5, Mounties responded to similar reports of a suspicious person possibly operating a drone near the Institution.

The CSC has yet to say what, if anything, came of those reports from their perspective.

In an email to CTV News, Cumberland County District RCMP says it’s looking for help from the public.

“The Cumberland Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit is actively investigating reports of suspicious persons and vehicles, in the area of Springhill Institution, in an effort to respond to illegal drone activity,” Sgt. Brian Cameron, operations non-commissioned officer of Cumberland County District RCMP, said.

“We encourage anyone with information to contact their local RCMP detachment, local police or the Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous.”

The Cumberland Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit includes members of the RCMP and the Amherst Police Department.

Finding high-value packages around federal institutions containing drugs and other contraband isn’t new to the Maritimes.

On Dec. 9 staff at the Atlantic Institution found a package containing $405,500 worth of crystal methamphetamine, shatter, MDMA (ecstasy), and marijuana.

In May 2024, $475,000 worth of crystal meth was discovered at the Springhill Institution in Nova Scotia. Part of that amount was dropped by a suspected drone.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page