BCF Buffer Zone More Than Doubles as Contraband Crackdown Delivers Major Results

The Bordelais Correctional Facility (BCF) has significantly strengthened its security posture, extending its protective buffer zone from 300 feet to 700 feet as prison officials intensify efforts to stop contraband from reaching inmates and tighten control around the institution.

The announcement was made by Acting Director Kerwin Albert during a recent media briefing, where he outlined a series of security enhancements that have already produced measurable results.

According to Albert, the expanded buffer zone forms part of a broader strategy to protect the prison’s perimeter and prevent prohibited items from being thrown into the facility.

He also revealed that the prison’s biannual Operation Clean Sweep, conducted on June 10, 2026, recorded a notable decline in the amount of contraband recovered compared to previous exercises.

“This year we can safely say because of the measures we put in place we had a reduction in the amount of contraband we confiscated for Clean Sweep 2026,” Albert stated.

To further combat illegal activity, BCF has implemented systematic searches around the prison’s perimeter to identify and remove contraband before it can reach inmates.

The Acting Director also disclosed that the institution has acquired a surveillance drone to detect suspicious activity around the prison while expanding its CCTV network and maintaining 24-hour monitoring of the facility.

Albert said the prison continues to work closely with the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, with both agencies undertaking joint security operations and specialised training exercises. The collaboration also extends to the Saint Lucia Fire Service, which recently trained 21 correctional recruits.

Looking ahead, the BCF is preparing for additional regional partnerships aimed at strengthening correctional operations. Albert announced that joint training exercises involving the Guyana Prison Service, the University of Guyana, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force and the BCF are expected in the coming months.

He further revealed that Saint Lucia has secured three places in an upcoming regional K-9 training programme being coordinated by the Guyana Prison Service and the Bahamas Prison Service. One of those positions has been allocated to the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, with the three-month programme scheduled to begin in September.

The latest initiatives reflect an ongoing push by prison authorities to modernise security operations, strengthen inter-agency cooperation and reduce the flow of contraband into Saint Lucia’s sole correctional institution.

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