A small amount of cannabis was given up during a 72-hour amnesty at Maghaberry Prison in September.

However, nothing was recovered this year despite another three-day amnesty at Maghaberry, a four-day amnesty at Hydebank, a further five-day amnesty at Hydebank, and a three-date amnesty at Magilligan.

A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Prison Service told The Irish News: “Although no-one came forward in the amnesties in Maghaberry, Hydebank and Magilligan during 2016, significant quantities of drugs have been confiscated this year by the Northern Ireland Prison Service, using a range of mechanisms.”