Inmates at the central prisons were paying up to €12 for a packet of cigarettes- normally priced at around €4- after falling victim to a fellow inmate-turned-“merchant” who, along with a senior prison officer, had set up a black-market mini-market inside a cell.
The “dealers” sourced items from the prison canteen and resold them within the prison’s underground economy. Items on offer included croissants, cigarettes, and coffee.
Key players in the scheme were an inmate, a senior prison officer, and the inmate’s wife, who managed the split of profits- reportedly 50%- with the officer.
Police are investigating the trio for conspiracy and bribery, while the prison officer is also being investigated for abuse of power, misappropriation of funds, corruption, and money laundering.
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