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Published on February 28, 2008

He will be held away from other prisoners until an investigation has been completed.

The man caught handing Banjong ecstasy pills during a Central Criminal Court assets-seizure hearing this past Monday, Songkran Chaiyawong, is a regular visitor to the prison, Preeda said.

The incident sparked an investigation into possible involvement of other inmates in a drug-dealing network.

Officials suspect Banjong put the pills in a condom and then hid them in his rectum to sneak them into the institution.

Preeda said he needed more prison officers at the institution. It has one officer for every 100 inmates. If he gets more money, the institution will build a new high-security zone with cameras and cellular telephone blocking devices.

The drug-swapping incident occurred as Banjong attended a hearing into the seizure of his assets. He was convicted in May and sentenced to 50 years' jail for possession of 2,880 methamphetamine pills with intent to sell. He was also fined over Bt3 million. Following Monday's slip, he received an additional six months.

Songkran was jailed for six months for contempt of court and is now being held in custody on possession charges. He was also found with two packages of "ice" and 30 tablets of the tranquilliser nimetazepam.

The Nation