Prince George, B.C. – Officials with the B.C. Ministry of Justice confirms that the Prince George Regional Correctional Centre has been locked down since late last week while the facility was combed for contraband.

A government spokesperson says the lockdown began on Thursday after prison staff received intelligence that contraband might be in the centre.  250 News has received information that the contraband in question was a weapon.  However there is no confirmation of that information from the ministry.

The spokesperson says prison staff have been working with the RCMP in conducting a complete search of the prison.  It is expected the lockdown will end and operations return to normal once officials are confident a thorough search has been undertaken and the investigation is completed.  Again there is no word that the search has ended and the lockdown has been lifted.

The spokesperson says at this time we are unable to comment any further.