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DOC reports 54 contraband investigations in 2025 and drone activity; senators press for more staff and oversight
Summary
Warden Wharton Borja told senators that DOC recorded 54 contraband cases in 2025 and three so far in 2026, cited tobacco, makeshift weapons and cell phones among seizures, and said DOC turns criminal matters to GPD; senators sought numbers on pending litigation and policies to prevent staff involvement.
Guam’s Department of Corrections told the Legislature on March 9 that it recorded 54 contraband investigations in 2025 and three so far in 2026, and that contraband ranges from tobacco and makeshift weapons to cell phones and narcotics.
"As I related earlier, 2025 from January to, December, we had 54 cases of contraband," Warden Wharton Borja said during the Committee on Public Safety, Emergency Management and Guam National Guard oversight hearing. He added that seizable items range from tobacco products to narcotics and homemade weapons.
DOC officials said they hand evidentiary contraband to the Guam Police Department for criminal investigation while pursuing administrative discipline internally. Borja told senators staff also intercepted drone activity near the perimeter but said the department had not documented a confirmed drone drop-off last year; DOC reported turning over two drones to GPD in past incidents and said some UAV activity appears to have crashed after delivery attempts.
When asked whether contraband cases were pending litigation with the Attorney General’s Office, the warden acknowledged uncertainty and agreed to provide the committee a follow-up letter with the status of 2025–2026 cases and what is with GPD and what is with the AG.
Senators and DOC witnesses discussed operational responses. Borja said comprehensive shakedowns require about 30 officers for a 60–70 person unit and that the department lacks that capacity on many shifts. "It takes about 2, 3 hours of activity — I hate to say it, but I play a chess match with the prisoners," the warden said, describing strategic timing to avoid overworking staff.
DOC described internal measures taken after early 2025 incidents, including limiting items staff can bring into compounds, shifting to clear mesh bags for inspections and tightening permissions for vendor-supplied items during holidays to reduce alcohol or fermentable ingredients.
On personnel accountability, DOC referenced general orders barring officers from supervising relatives and said the command requires self‑disclosure and supervisory notification; commanders also briefed platoons on general orders and a departmentwide drug-test notice was issued. Major Elgin and Maj. Lizama said DOC conducted 100 percent random testing in 2023 and recent reasonable-suspicion tests produced at least one resignation.
The committee requested DOC provide a written update on the number of contraband investigations, which of those are pending AG litigation and which are with GPD. The hearing recessed without legislative action on contraband policy pending additional documentation from DOC.
