Prisons are currently testing an "innovative" method of preventing drugs from entering them. The technique is said to be more effective than anti-drug dogs, the Flemish press reported on Wednesday.
For security reasons, the FPS Justice cannot comment further on this "promising" drug detection system currently being tested in some Belgian prisons. It was set up in collaboration with Europe. In addition to Belgium, the Netherlands and Greece are also participating in the European DrugDetect project.
Sources within the prison administration have drawn a parallel with the devices used in airports, such as security guards passing a cloth over travellers' hand luggage. This cloth is then analysed in a matter of seconds by a sophisticated device to detect the tiniest traces, such as explosives.
"The sophisticated devices we are currently testing in prisons can identify the tiniest traces of all possible drugs on a parcel, on a person's clothing or luggage, or even on their hands, at lightning speed", the prison authorities explained.
