In the past, before the development of electronic communication, homing pigeons had been used to deliver important messages.
But in a new text on making deliveries, local criminals have turned to these birds to deliver drugs, weapons and other contraband items over the towering walls of the Port-of-Spain Prison.
Only this time they are not flying in but their bodies are being stuffed with contraband and thrown over the walls.
Prisons Commissioner Sterling Stewart confirmed the ingenious method criminals have been using to smuggle cellphones, drugs, cigarettes and other items behind bars as tougher security measures, including full body scanners, have been implemented at the jail.
Stewart said there was a pigeon infestation at the prison and it was not unusual to see dead birds on the compound.
Curious officers later cut open the carcasses of some birds and found drugs and other items.
“The inmates are seeking all means necessary and my officers are on the alert and vigilant and discovered these innovative ways to get unauthorised articles in the prison,” he said.
Stewart said some inmates were dangerous and evil and fixed in their ways.
“With the advent of the security scanners they (inmates) end up with creative ways to get things into the prison even using dead pigeons. But now they stuffing things and sending it over the walls,” he said.
Prisons officers recently filed a lawsuit against the State challenging the failure to put sufficient measures in place to protect them. The lawsuit was filed in the wake of the February 29 murder of prisons officer Fitzalbert Victor. Police are working on the theory that Victor was killed on the instructions of a remand prisoner.