A 48-year old woman was discovered allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs into the Alexander Maconochie Centre on Thursday.
Lucinda Anne Bates faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday and was charged with trafficking methamphetamine.
ACT Police searched Ms Bates on Thursday afternoon as she tried to enter the prison as a visitor.
The search allegedly revealed a small balloon taped to the inside of her jumper, which contained a substance police believed to be methamphetamine.
Ms Bates was arrested and transported to the ACT Watch House where a search of her backpack allegedly revealed another balloon believed to also contain methamphetamine, and $1565 in cash.
The total weight of the balloons containing methamphetamine was 16 grams, which has an estimated street value of $12,000.
Prosecutors did not oppose bail as long as Ms Bates followed bail conditions agreed by both parties.
She must accept supervision from ACT Corrective Services and reside as directed. She must also not go within 100 metres of the prison.
ACT Corrective Services executive director Jon Peach, speaking generally about the issue of drugs in the prison, said drugs provided staff an ongoing challenge.
He said staff regularly turned people away from the prison who they believed were trying to smuggle drugs in and would refer those people to ACT Policing.
"Every time we block one method [of getting drugs in], they try another one," Mr Peach said.
He said drugs posed a significant problem to all prisons and damaged the prison's ability to maintain order and security.
However, he insisted drugs were not a larger problem at the Alexander Maconochie Centre than at other prisons.
