525 drug use cases recorded at Litla Hraun prison

A total of 525 cases in which inmates were caught using drugs were recorded at Litla Hraun prison between 2020 and 2025, while 57 such cases were reported at Hólmsheiði prison, mbl.is reports.

The figures were provided by Justice Minister Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir in response to a question from Nanna Margrét Gunnlaugsdóttir, a Centre Party MP.

Litla Hraun recorded its highest annual number of cases in 2021, with 123. Hólmsheiði recorded its highest figure in 2022, with 19 cases.

The minister said the problem was more widespread at Litla Hraun because Hólmsheiði, a purpose-built prison, offered significantly better opportunities to prevent drugs from entering the facility. She said the authorities did not lack legal powers to respond to and prevent the use of narcotics in Icelandic prisons.

However, fully separating individuals and groups at Litla Hraun, the country’s largest prison, had proved difficult. This made it harder to limit the spread of drugs, affected treatment work, had a negative effect on the safety of inmates and staff, and increased the risk of violence inside the prison, according to the minister’s response.

The response added that a new prison at Stóra Hraun would make it easier to address the problem.

Violations of prison rules on narcotics are subject to disciplinary sanctions. They can also affect inmates’ eligibility for day and family leave, as well as their ability to serve their sentences in open prisons.