Canadian correctional facilities seize $380,000 in prohibited items

In June 2026, correctional authorities in Quebec conducted five major raids at three detention centres—Québec City, Trois‑Rivières and Hull—confiscating roughly $380,000 worth of contraband. Items seized included tobacco products, cannabis concentrate, methamphetamine, cell phones, smoking accessories and makeshift firearms. The special search operation “Mainmise” on 17 June at the Québec City facility alone recovered about $69,000.

Later, on 20 and 22 July, the Correctional Service of Canada (SCC) carried out searches at the federal medium‑security Institution of Cowansville, seizing items valued at $263,744. The haul comprised cannabis concentrate, methamphetamine, tobacco, cell phones, accessories and improvised weapons. SCC employed ion‑detecting devices, drug‑sniffer dogs and coordinated with the Sûreté du Québec and municipal police to prevent the introduction of prohibited objects and to maintain safety for staff, inmates and visitors.