SUNDAY MAIL (Brisbane, Australia) 08 September 04 Deadly spiders as prison drugs
Inmates at a NSW jail have been caught keeping deadly redback spiders - so they could milk their venom and inject it for a high.
In a bizarre dice with death, prisoners watered down the venom before injecting, according to Corrective Services documents.
The spiders were among contraband seized from prisoners, according to documents obtained by the State Opposition, under Freedom of Information laws, which also revealed the number of weapons seized in jails has quadrupled over a year while drug use and "potato factory" alcohol set-ups have doubled.
Guards found more than 80 litres of "homemade" brew in 14 raids in the first three months of this year, according to the documents.
The four "pet" redbacks were found in a Grafton cell on February 19 with "intelligence suggesting" inmates at the complex had milked the venom, according to an incident report.
Australian Reptile Park spider keeper Jackie Adams-Maher said any "high" from redback venom would be painful and could involve major damage to organs.
Last night the Department of Corrective Services said there was not enough evidence to prove the theory.
Spokesman Brian Kelly said an inmate who pushed the argument was not credible.
"We did find spiders in a spider nest in a jar at Grafton in February," Mr Kelly said.
"An inmate in that area said inmates were breeding them for their venom.
"But we found no evidence to support the information," he said.
Wes Comment: I realise that this is not herp-specific, but I offer it just as general interest 'venom' item'. Respects, Wes
Deadly spiders as prison drugs
