According to the Prisons spokesperson for CSIF Cádiz, the organization has been warning for some time about the presence of these substances in Cádiz prisons. Criticism is directed at the outdated guide published a couple of years ago for handling these drugs, emphasizing the need to intercept their entry into penitentiary centers.
“"It is not just a matter of handling; it is fundamental to intercept this type of drug before it enters the centers: for this, electronic means are needed to carry out actions, and specific training to act in these particular cases."
CSIF has sent a letter to the general secretariat of Prison Institutions requesting the implementation of adequate measures to contain the threat that fentanyl and other drugs pose to the safety of workers and the inmate population. The consumption of these narcotics often leads to disorders, conflicts, and aggression among inmates, involving penitentiary staff, as has already been observed in prisons such as Algeciras and Puerto III.
These substances, including fentanyl and synthetic cannabis, are introduced into penitentiary centers impregnated in papers, making them almost undetectable. These “paperitos” (small papers) can arrive in correspondence or drawings, and the variability of substances and quantities in each dose makes their effects unpredictable, hindering the response of health and security personnel in cases of overdose. The union regrets that the fentanyl handling manual published in September 2024 is “absolutely insufficient and outdated”.
CSIF's proposals focus on prevention, detection, and rapid response, including medical measures to treat and prevent overdoses, and operational surveillance and control measures. More training, more staff, more technical resources, and a review of penitentiary legislation are demanded. Although the “paperitos” are considered difficult to detect, the organization assures that technology exists to intercept the drug, but there is a lack of “political will” for the necessary budgetary investment.
