Corrections Victoria’s latest Drugs in Victorian Prisons Report showed the heroin replacement drug Buprenorphine was still finding its way inside the medium security Loddon Prison significantly more than any other drug.

Buprenorphine can come in patch-form, making it easier to conceal than other drugs.

The report found that in March, 10 of the 84 targeted samples taken from Loddon prisoners tested positive to a drug of dependence – a result of 11.9 per cent.

Just two of 47 random tests came back positive.

Buprenorphine was detected 13 times in total over the testing in March, amphetamine once, and there was no detection of other drugs.

Positive results were significantly lower than in December, when almost one-in-four targeted drug tests came back positive.

The spike was due to a rapid increase in the number of prisoners testing positive to amphetamines.

Guards were unable to seize any contraband from visitors for the month of March, but seized five edged weapons from prisoners, nine smoking paraphernalia items and three electronic devices.

In the past, Corrections Victoria stated that prisoners go to “great lengths” to smuggle drugs.

Loddon Middleton Prison general manager Peter McCoombe said staff rely on intelligence gathering and random and targeted urine sample collections to monitor drugs that enter the prison.

He said there had been a decrease in drug user statuses in the last 12 months, and expected a recently-opened medical centre on the Loddon Prison grounds would result in a further reduction.

Prisons use extensive drug detection measures at all entrances, including screening devices and body searches. Corrections Victoria also relies on intelligence operations to detect contraband.

No drugs were detected in the adjoining Middleton Prison.