Spice, Pinaca and Co. – Zombie drugs are flooding local jails

“Spice”, “Pinaca” or also called “zombie drug” – this illegal substance is currently causing alarm in institutions. It wasn’t until Saturday that we reported on an inmate lying dead in his cell – probably from a drug overdose.

“They are synthetic cannabinoids. These fall under the collective name ‘New Psychoactive Substances’ (NPS). They have nothing to do with cannabis, because the effect is completely different,” explains Christian Fürbaß, responsible for the criminal justice/security and prevention of extremism department at the Directorate General of the Ministry of Justice.

“The stairs are fast and short”
These synthetic cannabinoids are usually smoked. “The kick is fast and short, but intense. Instead of dampening, they push up. The pressure for addiction is extremely high and consumers are becoming nervous,” says Fürbaß. Such substances are odorless, tasteless and invisible. And: They are very difficult to dose.

“Many people believe that nothing and no one can get in or out of our prisons – a misconception. For example, we have visitors, external trainers come for vocational training, there are launderettes and kitchens that need to be adjusted accordingly, and of course also deliveries of goods for the internal operation of the institution. If the carpentry workshop needs wood or the locksmith shop needs metal, this will be delivered to the relevant prison. There are 21 workplaces in the Graz-Karlau prison alone. In addition, there are exits that need to be implemented as part of the relaxation of enforcement,” Fürbaß explains, “these are all ways in which objects can be smuggled.”

Drones as a tool
Throwing – that is, throwing substances over prison walls – is still practiced. “There are now isolated attempts to use drones to bring objects inside prison walls. Of course it’s more complicated than a tennis ball cut open and filled with drugs, but it happens.”

The aim is to counter this danger with various coping measures. “In the institutions there are daily cell checks, event-related searches and special operations between agencies. “We are very well supported in this by the assistance dog teams of the state police,” the expert emphasizes.

Between 50 and 60 joint searches take place in all domestic prisons every year. On November 29, such a focus campaign took place in Innsbruck prison. “Seven assistance dog handlers were present, some illegal substances were discovered – the operation was successful,” says Fürbaß.

“Sprayed on children’s drawings”
Security guards also identify vulnerabilities. “We know, for example, that synthetic cannabinoids are often sprayed onto documents such as children’s drawings or manipulated official mail. If we discover suspicious edges, put a drop of water on the paper and the structure changes, that can be an indication,” says the expert.

The prisoner’s entire post had already been copied and the originals preserved: “That was an incredible effort. We now do this specifically in specific suspicious situations.” And because illegal substances can also be attached to textiles, incoming laundry is washed before being passed to prisoners.

“Employees will also be drone pilots in the future”
Modern technology also plays a major role here – “to identify addictive substances,” Fürbaß explains. These include strip tests such as urine tests. An ion mobility spectrometer is currently being tested at the Jakomini and Karlau prison in Graz. In a pilot project with the University of Graz, a separate database of ingredients is created with this device. Clippings of suspicious stationery or clothing are placed inside, scanned and analyzed. “It quickly becomes clear what you are dealing with,” says Fürbaß, who emphasizes the advantages of this technology. This database must be completely complete by mid-January 2025 and contain dozens of substances.

“Employees will also be drone pilots in the future”
They also go their own way when it comes to drones: “We plan to train our employees as drone pilots and then use them for perimeter security at the external borders of the institutions. That’s what’s going on now.”

Illegal substances will always remain a problem within prisons. Fürbaß: “This area continues to develop. A few years ago we were still extremely busy with bath salts (methamphetamine), now it is NPS and in a few years it will be something new again. But the fact is: we are also constantly developing, because this topic and the safety of staff and detainees are a fundamental and constant concern for us.”