Prisoners smuggling mind-bending spice into cells with drug-soaked teabags

Inmates have been getting high on Spice in their cells – smuggled into jail in teabags.

Guards had thought lags were simply looking for a cuppa, unaware the leaves they were buying off other inmates were soaked in the mindbending substance.

The bags were then ripped open and the leaves smoked. But the ploy was rumbled after checks were stepped up and the teabags were put through a £30,000 scanner, initially bought to check letters for the drug.

The ruse was revealed in a report into Bedford prison by the Independent Monitoring Board.

It said the prevalence of Spice, which can turn users into “zombies”, had dropped after checks were stepped up.

The teabags, which were soaked in the drug spice, were ripped open and the leaves were then smoked by inmates (Getty)

Previously prison guards had focused on scanning ­letters, books and clothing, which could be shredded and smoked after being ­impregnated with the drug.

The report added: “The drug most commonly detected is cannabis, with new psychoactive substances being second.

Prisoners waiting for inspection in a corridor (Alamy Stock Photo)

“There is no doubt these have a significant impact on the jail.

"They are known as the bird killer because they make time disappear.”

Drugs thrown over prison walls have also been targeted – with secure windows to stop inmates ­throwing out “fishing lines” to hook packages.

The Prison Service said: “We’re investing £100million to improve security with tech like body scanners.”