Lovelette Brooks, Special Projects Editor

Major Richard Reese, Commissioner of Corrections. - File

From his cell block in one of the island's penal institutions, Weedie, an inmate, carefully monitors the purchase and delivery of four one-pound packages of ganja. Destined for sale within the prison, a warder will ensure the packages are delivered.

"This the easiest part," said Weedie candidly. "All you have to do is to make sure you know who you are dealing with and have the money to pay him to bring it in for you."

The most difficult part of the operation, he told The Sunday Gleaner, is "sourcing good-quality herb, and having it delivered to the warder or officer, who will get it to me."

A relaxed Weedie confessed to peddling and using drugs prior to his incarceration. Since he was a teenager, he has been involved in illegal activities which he said has rewarded him handsomely. He said he still earns considerably from the trade, despite the strictures of prison life. In fact, in less than two years behind bars he said he has made close to $1 million.

Using a post paid cell phone, the in mate gave a first-hand account of his transactions which are carried out while under 24-hour supervision by prison officials.

"Here is how it works", he related. "I use one of two methods to get the drug in: directly, through the warders who buy it off the street and bring it in, or indirectly through my girlfriend. Buying the weed on the road is the most risky part of the set-up, it is not too safe for the warders who do not know who may be watching them."

Despite the risks, ganja is smuggled in on a weekly basis by the warders.

"They bring the weed in for me by the parcels, all four or five parcels at a time, mostly when they work on the night shift," Weedie said. "They pass it over to me directly, or they may use another inmate as the middle-man."

At what point do the prison officers cross the line? and how do they do it?

"First you link up with a correctional officer in here. Right now, is about five of them I deal with," 'Weedie explained. "You observe and you know which ones will do it. You get him number and everything and study him shift. Then you pass this on to you link on the outside, who will fix up the weed and give it to him, and he will bring it in little by little. If there are any suspicions or anything, the warder will be tipped off, so him know him must come in clean. But with this ganja thing, we all work together, because every man benefit."

The inmate said that prison officials are not only the chief architects behind getting the gang in, they "facilitate" its sale and use on the compound. "Once they receive their cut, they turn a blind eye to what goes on, they will see us smoking it and don't bother them, one or two will confiscate it and withhold your privileges, so we are not up front with all of them ," he related.

How much money the warder earns depends on the quality of the gang, the price it fetches, and the quantity they bring in. "In one night, a warder may bring in say four pounds of ganja. Each pound would be bought at a street value of $5,000, but on the inside I can make $16,000 off it, sometimes $10,00, sometimes, $8,000, depending on the quality," Weedie disclosed. "He (the warder) gets $2,000 or $3,000 of that and the rest is my profit. If one warder bring in weed for three or four inmate, he makes something decent compared to him pay, which is small."

Weedie claimed several warders have purchased vehicles out of their illegal trade, adding that inmates look forward to a good 'draw' to keep them relaxed. For inmates who sell weed in prison, it benefits their families.

"You have to have money, while you are here," said Weedie. "Most man in here, have relatives and children to support and send to school, so them have to earn. Selling the drug is one of the sure ways to make money.

Weedie is the assumed name given to the inmate who related his story to the Sunday Gleaner.