Officials on statewide prison shakedown

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - What goes on behind prison walls could spell trouble on the outside.

State corrections officials are on a statewide shakedown of prison inmates and what they're finding could mean safer streets for New Mexico.

“The searches, we basically clean house,” Lt. Alfred Lucero said.

Nothing is off limits, books, magazines, clothes etc.

Corrections officers are combing through prison cells of more than 6,000 inmates housed inside all state prisons.

The massive shakedown is attempting to shakeup any illegal or potentially deadly activity.

“It is very necessary, these are dangerous weapons, they can hurt staff and inmates,” Lt. Lucero said.

The shakedowns began Thursday and it didn't take long for officers to find what they were looking for.

Shanks were found within the first hour of searching.

“One was wedged between a bunk and the wall and the other was in the vent,” Lucero said.

Lieutenant Alfred Lucero says some prison-made tattoo machines were also found and also a cryptic letter.

“We need to find those [letters] because that's how information is getting passed,” Lucero said.

Prison officials say the letters are written in Aztec as a way to send secret messages to the outside.

“Letters being sent in, sent out from the streets,” Capt. Joe Lytle said.

The letter found this week was like a dictionary, sent from inmate to inmate.

“So they can break down the code once they get the letter,” Lytle said.

The next letter could spell out a crime in your neighborhood.

Captain Joe Lytle says that's how some inmates still try to call the shots while locked up.

“We’re already on top of this…we already got the codes broke,” Lucero said.

Prison officials say during the shakedown, some inmates are also interviewed which can lead to more crucial information for officers.

The massive shakedown will continue through the weekend.