13 persons were held and a quantity of contraband seized during a joint exercise at the Maximum Security Prison in Arouca.

This was conducted by the Police Service and the Prisons Service between 4pm and 10pm yesterday.

The TTPS says 28 cell-phones were recovered, along with 10 improvised weapons, two sim cards and a small quantity of marijuana.

Investigations are continuing.

The police party included officers from the Northern Division Task Force, North and South, North Central Task Force, Special Operations Unit, Guard and Emergency Branch, Arouca, Piarco Criminal Investigations Department and also the Prisons Emergency Response Unit.