Pubdate: Sat, 14 Apr 2007 Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 Abbotsford News Contact: http://www.abbynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155 Author: Rochelle Baker WEAPONS, DRUGS, DEBT SHEETS FOUND Matsqui Institution, a medium security jail for men in Abbotsford, has been locked down since Monday. "We are anticipating a return to routine operations [today]," said assistant warden Randie Scott. Scott said the lock down at Matsqui was initiated to allow a wide-scale of the premises after staff uncovered stashes of home-made weapons, drugs and debt sheets. We also came across inmates displaying intimidating behaviour to other inmates, Scott said. He said the search and lock down were not measures the institution undertook lightly, and were only instigated if circumstances merit it. "It restricts what residual freedoms the inmates would otherwise enjoy, such as freedom of association," he said. Scott said the search had uncovered some edged weapons and flaps of what appear to be heroin cocaine. One weapon had been fashioned out a piece of sharpened metal from a filing cabinet. Scott said although scheduled private family visits continued through the week regular scheduled visits were suspended. This is the second lock down at Matsqui since January. The institution is operated by the Correctional Service of Canada and has 354 inmates. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek