Former correctional officer accused of smuggling drugs to inmates

A former correctional officer is among four men facing a long list of charges related to allegedly smuggling hard drugs to inmates at an institution in British Columbia's Fraser Valley.

Jason Lee was arrested Wednesday and charged with nine offences including obstruction of justice as part of a criminal organization;trafficking in a controlled substance as part of a criminal organization; and accepting a bribe as a peace officer, according to Chiliwack RCMP.

He has been released on strict bail conditions, Mounties said. He's scheduled to appear in court on Sept.3.

Lee started working as a correctional officer in 2022 before his employment ended in 2023, according to theUnion for Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO).

The charges were laid following an investigation between Chilliwack RCMP's drug section and the Correctional Service of Canada.

Police said they discovered evidence that a correctional officer was smuggling contraband including drugs, weaponsand cellphonesto inmates.

In September last year, search warrants were executed at "several locations" in Chilliwack, which resulted in the seizure of cash, illicit substances and illegal contraband, according to the RCMP.

Police said three other menMark Majcher, Lucas Thiessen and Jeffrey Tkatchuk are also facing several charges as a result of the investigation,including conspiracy to bribe a peace officer and obstruction of justice.

The four men are alleged to have obstructed justice from February to September 2023 at theKent Institution inAgassiz, B.C, according to court documents obtained by CBC News.

Meth, cocaine, MDMA

Lee is accused of unlawfully possessing meth, cocaine, MDMAand anabolic steroids for the purposes of trafficking, court records allege.

Lee is accused of allegedly doing that crime "for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal organization" composed ofMajcher,ThiessenandTkatchuk.

John Randle, the regional president of the UCCOfor B.C., told CBC News he felt "anger, frustration, shock" when he learned about the allegations.

"It's something alarming that we don't obviously condone. In fact, we work really hard as correctional officers to keep drugs and contraband out," he said.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Thiessen was sentenced to 51 months in jail in 2018 in relation to drug possession and trafficking charges.

In a statement, CSC said itstop priority is ensuringthe safety and security of its institutions, staff, inmatesand the public.

"CSC employees are expected to act according to legal and ethical standards and are subject to the rules of professional conduct and code of discipline," it said.

"Employees found in violations of these can face disciplinary actions, which can include termination of employment."