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Probe finds porous security at NYC’s Rikers Island

In this undated photo provided by the New York City Department of Investigation, contraband smuggled by an undercover investigator into Rikers Island jail facilities is shown. During six visits to the New York City jail, the investigator was able to get a plastic bag containing 250 glassine envelopes of heroin; one plastic bag containing 24 packaged strips of suboxone; two plastic bags containing a total weight of one half-pound of marijuana, 16 ounces of vodka in a water bottle, and one razor blade past the personnel at the security entrance. (AP Photo/New York City Department of Investigation)
In this undated photo provided by the New York City Department of Investigation, contraband smuggled by an undercover investigator into Rikers Island jail facilities is shown. During six visits to the New York City jail, the investigator was able to get a plastic bag containing 250 glassine envelopes of heroin; one plastic bag containing 24 packaged strips of suboxone; two plastic bags containing a total weight of one half-pound of marijuana, 16 ounces of vodka in a water bottle, and one razor blade past the personnel at the security entrance. (AP Photo/New York City Department of Investigation)

By Associated Press 3 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – New York City jail officials plan tighter screening of guards and other employees after a city investigation found they were easily able to smuggle vodka, heroin, marijuana and razor blades into Rikers Island in exchange for hundreds of dollars in “courier” fees from inmates.

A report Thursday from the city’s Department of Investigation revealed guards were routinely allowed to put lunches on top of X-ray machines, rather than through them, and were regularly waved through security after setting off metal detectors.

The report found one undercover investigator posing as a guard was able to smuggle in more than $22,000 worth of contraband – including booze, drugs and a razor blade – in six separate attempts at six different Rikers jails.

“Clearly our investigation indicates that this is a real problem,” said DOI Commissioner Mark Peters.

The report comes after a series of investigations by the anti-corruption agency – which this year alone resulted in charges against 10 jail guards, 30 inmate arrests and multiple jail sweeps. Guards were accused of smuggling contraband into lockups to inmates for courier fees that averaged about $600. In one case from last year, a guard got $2,000 for smuggling in 150 grams of marijuana.