Parc Prison: Three arrested for drug dealing offences

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Parc Prison
Image caption,
Six inmates died at HMP Parc between 27 February and 19 March, prompting an investigation

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of drug dealing offences at a Bridgend prison.

Police said a man, 40, from Birmingham, and a woman, 34, from Cardiff, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs and money laundering.

Both were released under investigation.

A 34-year-old man from Cardiff was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs.

He was released on conditional bail pending further enquiries.

Six prisoners died at HMP Parc between 27 February and 19 March.

Four of the deaths are believed to be drug related, while two are being treated as non-suspicious.

'Found unresponsive'

On Wednesday, an inquest heard that one of the inmates who died, Cameran Anthony, was found unresponsive by prison staff during morning rounds on 19 March.

The inquest opening at Pontypridd heard staff had raised the alarm and performed CPR, but he died.

A post-mortem examination did not provide a cause for Mr Anthony's death, with further tests required.

But the assistant coroner for south Wales central, Rachel Knight, said she had reason to suspect Mr Anthony's death may have been "unnatural".

The full inquest, which will be heard by a jury, was adjourned to a later date yet to be decided.

HMP Parc is a category B prison holding convicted male adult and young offenders and convicted and remand sex offenders.

At the time of a 2019 inspection it held 1,612 prisoners, making it one of the largest prisons in the UK.