Inmates growing marijuana in prison

SANTO DOMINGO, (AP):

Authorities in the Dominican Republic say they have discovered marijuana plants growing inside a prison.

A spokesman for the National Drug Control Agency says officers making a surprise inspection found 33 plants inside two cells in a prison in Najayo, just outside the capital of Santo Domingo.

Ramon Rodriguez said yesterday that one inmate was linked to 28 of the plants while two other inmates were accused of growing the remainder.

Authorities expect to charge the three suspects with drug possession for commercial purposes.

Rodriguez did not say how the inmates were able to conceal the plants or whether anyone else was involved. The investigation is continuing.