Drug package disguised as grass patch found inside Mission Institution, RCMP investigating

Corrections officers at Mission Institution in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley seized a package containing suspected drugs and contraband after it was discovered inside the prison grounds earlier this month, according to police.

The RCMP said in a news release that staff located the package on April 9 after it had been dropped over the facility’s perimeter fence overnight. The parcel was disguised to resemble a patch of loose turf, with real cut grass attached to the outside of a bubble mailer to blend in with the surrounding ground.

According to police, the package contained more than 300 grams of what is believed to be methamphetamine, along with an iPhone, razor blades and other prohibited items. The contents have not been independently tested, and the substance is described as suspected methamphetamine by investigators.

RCMP said investigators believe the package may have been delivered by drone, though that has not been confirmed. The investigation is ongoing, and officers said charges could be recommended if sufficient evidence is gathered against individuals either inside or outside the institution.

The incident highlights ongoing concerns about contraband entering federal correctional facilities and the methods used to bypass security measures. Responsibility for perimeter security and contraband prevention falls under Correctional Service Canada, while criminal investigations are led by police.