In a surprising revelation, five out of nine inmates, who were arrested under suspicion of involvement with international criminal organizations, were discovered to possess mobile phones in their prison cells. This information comes from the Director of Prison Affairs, Birgir Jónasson, who emphasized the need to investigate the circumstances that allowed these phones to enter the facility. Authorities are now looking into whether any equipment could be used to prevent the smuggling and usage of such devices inside prisons.

The arrests occurred during a police operation targeting an international crime ring that was involved in smuggling drugs from South America to Iceland. Interestingly, nine of the eleven individuals arrested were already incarcerated when the police operation took place, either serving sentences or awaiting trial in pre-trial detention. The remaining two suspects were released. This connection raises serious concerns about the security measures in place within the correctional system and the potential for inmates to communicate with the outside world.

Following the arrests, searches were conducted in the prisoners' cells where the mobile phones were found in five of them. Authorities believe these devices may have been used for illicit activities, potentially including the coordination of criminal operations from within the prison walls. The ongoing investigation aims to ensure that such breaches of security do not happen again, which is crucial for maintaining order and safety both inside and outside the prison environment.