The Punjab Prisons Department has told the Lahore High Court that inmates in the province have been bringing narcotics into jails by hiding them in “sensitive” areas of the body, prompting authorities to tighten screening and accelerate plans for new detection equipment.
The disclosure was submitted as part of a court-ordered review after the LHC directed prisons to carry out a province-wide screening drive to identify inmates struggling with drug use.
Officials said the screening is now conducted through a formal mechanism at the time a prisoner is admitted, and that the process follows internationally recognized prison management guidelines, including the Nelson Mandela Rules.
According to the report, screenings conducted from January 1 to October 31, 2025 found 3,873 inmates to be drug users. During the same period, 10,166 tests were carried out, with 6,293 returning negative results and the remaining tests coming back positive.
The department said the most frequently detected substances among inmates included ice (crystal meth), hashish, and amphetamines. It added that prisons are using rapid testing kits capable of detecting a wide range of drugs, including methamphetamine, THC, amphetamine, benzodiazepines, methadone, MDMA and other compounds.
To respond to the issue, officials said separate blocks have been created in every jail for inmates dealing with addiction. To curb smuggling, the department has also decided to install body scanners at prisons to prevent narcotics from being brought inside through concealment.
Beyond drug control, the report also flagged broader strain on Punjab’s prison system. It said under-trial prisoners make up 72% of the inmate population, placing additional pressure on facilities. The report put the total prison population at 70,739, adding that an average of 7,500 inmates are produced before courts daily.
The department recommended that rehabilitation and reintegration of drug-dependent prisoners should be handled more formally with the involvement of the Health Department and Social Welfare Department, arguing that treatment needs to be prioritized alongside enforcement.
Other proposals included stricter monitoring during court escorts, limiting unnecessary contact during movements, and training prison staff in substance abuse support and mental health care.
The report also called for increased funding for testing kits, stronger coordination between relevant departments on rehabilitation, legal recognition of drug-addicted inmates as a distinct category, and the establishment of dedicated detox centers.