A boss at one of Scotland's biggest prisons has claimed it is 'impossible' to keep drugs out of jails due to massive demand from inmates.
Sean McFedries, head of operations at HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow, said that although 'everything was being done' to prevent drugs being introduced and used behind bars it was 'impossible' to stop all of the drugs getting in.
McFedries, who has held the post since 2018, said a 'substantial demand' for illicit substances saw dealers sell drugs to prisoners at a 'very high' value.
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He also stated 'there is not a jail fix' for the issue.
McFedries' comments emerged from a fatal accident inquiry at Glasgow Sheriff Court over the death of James McCulloch, 27.
He was found unresponsive in his cell at HMP Barlinnie by staff in March 2020 but a post mortem found his cause of death was 'unascertained'.
An investigation revealed a 'homemade smoking pipe' was in his cell and tests showed he had ingested a legal high known as synthetic cannabinoid.
They are commonly smuggled into jails after being soaked into sheets of paper and later smoked.
Sheriff Thomas Hughes said McFedries' evidence to the inquiry had been 'particularly useful' in addressing issues with drugs in Scottish jails.
Issuing a written judgment, the sheriff said: "It is widely reported and known that illicit drugs find their way into and circulate within the prison establishment.
"This occurs despite robust efforts to combat and prevent this. This is not a problem unique to HMP Barlinnie.
"The affidavit from Sean McFedries is particularly useful to the Inquiry in regard to this issue.
"The affidavit provides a detailed overview of the measures employed by the SPS at HMP Barlinnie. Mr McFedries' evidence as to the efforts employed by HMP Barlinnie to prevent drugs entering the prison was of benefit to this inquiry.
"There are extensive operations employed by prison authorities to halt and disrupt the supply of illicit drugs into the prison estate. Of note, Mr McFedries described a constant battle to meet the challenges posed by those who would seek to introduce drugs to the prison.
"He described the various methods by which such substances may enter the prison estate along with the preventative and disruptive actions taken by the prison."
McCulloch had been jailed for drug offences after being caught with almost £100,000 worth of ecstasy tablets in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, and was not set to be released until July 2025.
Sheriff Hughes ruled there were no precautions which could have been taken to have avoided his death and passed on his condolences to family members.
Earlier this year, HMP Barlinnie became the first jail in Scotland to introduce a body scanner as part of efforts to cut down on smuggling contraband.
The instant internal images can reveal weapons, mobile phones and drugs.
All Scottish jails are now photocopying prisoners' mail to prevent letters soaked in substances entering cells.
The Scottish Prison Service was approached for comment.
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