All 11 state prison facilities in New Mexico were locked down Monday as part of a hunt for contraband, reports the Albuquerque Journal. Prison officials said staff members would search every inmate and housing unit for illegal items and review the conditions of buildings.
Officials say inmates and their families have tried in recent months to smuggle Suboxone, a drug that treats opiate addiction, into prisons using various methods, such as on the back of stamps or in children's coloring books. Officials said inmates use the drug or sell it to other prisoners. The lockdown will be lifted once all facilities have been inspected, officials said. All visits were canceled until the lockdown ends.