Officials accused of corruptly agreeing to accept bribes, supplying meth at Auckland prison

Nine Mt Eden Corrections Facility staff were arrested today after a police investigation.

Twelve officials are accused of agreeing corruptly to accept bribes to bring unauthorised items into an Auckland jail, and some are charged with conspiring to supply methamphetamine to prisoners.

Corrections has confirmed nine staff members from the Mt Eden Corrections Facility (MECF) were arrested today after a wider police operation in the Auckland area.

Five Kohuora Auckland South Corrections Facility reintegration officers were also arrested.

Charging documents seen by the Herald show 12 people have been charged with being an official who has “corruptly agreed to accept a bribe”.

It carries a seven-year maximum period of imprisonment.

The alleged bribes relate to introducing an “unauthorised item” into prison in the staff members’ official capacities.

At least one person listed on charge sheets provided to the Herald has been arrested for allegedly offering to give a bribe to an official.

Multiple officials are also charged with conspiring to supply a Class A drug, namely methamphetamine, to unknown prisoners.

This carries a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment.

The Kohuora Auckland South Corrections Facility is operated by Serco.

One official was charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice “by counselling and confirming their constructed versions of events if questioned” about the illegal smuggling, as well as deleting material from their phones.

Police allege the offending occurred across various dates this year and in 2025.

The men were scheduled to appear in the Auckland District Court today.

Police said further and fuller comments would be released in due course.

“As our terminations are still active, we aren’t currently able to release further details,” a spokesperson said.

Corrections told the Herald it was “extremely limited” in what information it could provide because of ongoing investigations and court proceedings.

In an earlier statement, the deputy commissioner of men’s prisons, Dave Pattinson, said criminal activity in prisons would not be tolerated.

“Any prisoners or staff taking part in this sort of activity will be found out and held to account.

“Corrections employs approximately 11,000 staff and the overwhelming majority act with integrity, professionalism and honesty in what is an extremely demanding and often dangerous job working with New Zealand’s most dangerous offenders.”

He confirmed the nine Mt Eden staff were arrested today, and included Corrections officers and senior Corrections officers.

“Corrections has assisted police throughout their operation and will continue to do so.”

Five Kohuora Auckland South Corrections Facility reintegration officers were also arrested today.

A spokesperson for Serco, the private company which runs Auckland South Corrections Facility, confirmed they were arrested as part of a police investigation across Corrections sites in Auckland.

“We are confident that the overwhelming majority of our staff have integrity, professionalism and a strong commitment to safety every day.

“Serco takes all forms of criminal activity extremely seriously. We have assisted the police with their inquiries throughout this investigation and will continue to do so.”