Overview
- During a media visit to JVA Köln on Tuesday, Justice Minister Benjamin Limbach said "Der Strafvollzug ist sicher" and watched a demonstration by Evi, a Belgian shepherd from the Diensthundestaffel that showed dogs can detect mobile phones, drugs and new psychoactive substances.
- Prison officials described a string of recent, sometimes elaborate smuggling cases such as phones hidden in shoe soles or inside a diaper and drugs concealed in food tins, which have driven public concern and parliamentary questions.
- Limbach defended routine measures that officials say work in practice, including regular cell inspections typically done weekly and stepped up when there is suspicion, plus targeted use of trained sniffer dogs.
- He reiterated his plan to introduce bag searches for staff to dispel a "general suspicion" against employees while acknowledging that no set of measures can deliver 100 percent security.
- Officials warned the system has limited canine resources—seven handlers under the current concept, each with two dogs—which leaves gaps in coverage and fuels debate over whether new rules and oversight can restore control and public trust.