Prison guards and officers of the V.I. Police Department on Thursday evacuated and searched two units of the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility. seizing a small amount of contraband, the Bureau of Corrections announced.

The reduced contraband tally indicates security measures at the prison are working, according to acting Warden Donald Redwood.

In a statement released Thursday,. Redwood announced the second in a series of collaborative efforts between the Bureau and the Virgin Islands Police Department toward reducing contraband and improving safety and security at the facility. ‘Operation Safety First’ was executed at Golden Grove Thursday afternoon with searches of dormitories and other common areas at the facility.

“Thursday afternoon at approximately 1:30 p.m., Golden Grove personnel in conjunction with officers of the VIPD and the Gun Dog Unit conducted a search of two units at the facility," Redwood said. "The units were completely evacuated in order to gain access and conduct thorough searches of all areas and resulted in two cell phones and two mash/fake shanks being uncovered. This operation took a little over three hours to complete and is deemed successful based on the low number of items uncovered. The items found indicate a marked reduction of contraband coming into the facility and further suggests that the measures being taken to eradicate contraband are fulfilling their purpose.”

The acting warden said the two agencies are taking steps to reduce the amount of contraband into the facility.

“We are taking a very different and proactive approach to the safety and security of the facility toward a safer environment for inmates and BOC staff. We have identified our goals, set up our strategies and carried them out. We are grateful for the collaboration, support and camaraderie with the VIPD, and we look forward to a continued mutually beneficial relationship between the agencies and future operations,” Redwood said.