The Correctional Service of Canada Says Packages Seized at Collins Bay Institution Between October 30 and November 4 Included Tobacco, Marijuana, Cannabis Concentrate and an Edged Weapon, and Puts Their Institutional Value at $593,253 (November 9, 2026)
The Correctional Service of Canada says packages containing contraband and unauthorized items were seized at Collins Bay Institution, a multi-level security federal institution on Bath Road in Kingston, between October 30 and November 4, 2026, and puts the total estimated institutional value of the seizures at $593,253. The service’s November 9 release lists tobacco, marijuana, cannabis concentrate, drug paraphernalia, an edged weapon, and a cell phone and accessories, and credits the vigilance of staff members. A service spokesperson told Kingstonist the seizures were a combination of suspected drone drops and exceptional searches within the institution. No charges have been reported.
Legal status: No charges have been reported in connection with these seizures, and no individual has been identified.
What the Service Says Was Seized
According to the Correctional Service of Canada, the items seized between October 30 and November 4 included tobacco, marijuana, cannabis concentrate, drug paraphernalia, an edged weapon, and a cell phone and accessories, and the seizures came as a result of the vigilance of staff members. Kingstonist adds that the concentrate is known as “shatter.”
The $593,253 figure is the service’s own estimate of institutional value, and should not be read as a street-value figure. The service says it uses ion scanners and drug-detector dogs to search buildings, property, inmates and visitors.
Suspected Drone Drops and Exceptional Searches
Kingstonist reports that Kerry Gatien, the service’s Media Relations and Communications Advisor, described the seizures as a combination of suspected drone drops and exceptional searches within the institution. Kingstonist asked the service whether it is enhancing security or addressing drone activity, and reports that the service indicated it would respond by Friday, November 13, 2026.
The Thirty-Fourth Reported Seizure of the Year
Kingstonist reports that this is the 34th reported instance of package seizures at the institution this year, that the previous one was reported on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and that seizures have been reported almost weekly for over a month.
The service says it has heightened measures to prevent contraband from entering its institutions and works in partnership with police to take action against those who try to introduce it. It operates a toll-free line, 1-866-780-3784, through which callers can remain anonymous and the information shared is protected; the service says tips may relate to drug use or trafficking that threatens the safety and security of its institutions.
What the Correctional Service of Canada lists
- Items: tobacco; marijuana; cannabis concentrate; drug paraphernalia; an edged weapon; a cell phone and accessories
- Institutional value: $593,253, the service’s estimate of the total
- Period: Friday, October 30 to Wednesday, November 4, 2026
- Credited to: the vigilance of staff members
- Described by a CSC spokesperson, per Kingstonist, as: a combination of suspected drone drops and exceptional searches within the institution
- Tip line: 1-866-780-3784, toll-free; callers can remain anonymous
Timeline
- October 30 to November 4, 2026The period in which the Correctional Service of Canada says the packages in this announcement were seized at Collins Bay Institution.
- November 2, 2026The service issues an earlier release on Collins Bay seizures made between October 24 and 30, with a total estimated institutional value of $615,708.
- November 3, 2026Kingstonist says the previous package seizure at the institution was reported on this date.
- November 9, 2026The service releases the item list and the $593,253 institutional value, and Kingstonist reports it.
- November 13, 2026The date by which Kingstonist reports the service indicated it would respond to its questions about security and drone activity.
Operates Collins Bay Institution and issued the release with the item list and institutional value
Related Files
Sources
- Correctional Service of Canada, “Seizures of contraband and unauthorized items at Collins Bay Institution,” November 9, 2026 — for the item list, the dates and the institutional value — canada.ca
- Kingstonist, “Multiple packages of contraband seized at Collins Bay Institution result of suspected drone drops, exceptional searches,” November 9, 2026 — for the spokesperson’s description, the seizure count and the November 13 response date — kingstonist.com
No charges have been reported in connection with these seizures, and no individual has been identified. The figures and item list are those of the Correctional Service of Canada’s November 9 release; the description of suspected drone drops and exceptional searches and the seizure count are as reported by Kingstonist. No gang or criminal organization has been named in connection with these seizures.
