Smuggled cell phones found in prisons across Texas - KFDA - NewsChannel 10 / Amarillo News, Weather, Sports

Texas - Cell phones have become a hot commodity among Texas inmates.

Although cell phones are banned inside prison, investigators are finding them by the hundreds.

They have become the most sought after item among inmates.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice says they have discovered cell phones in juice cans, book and even found one inside an inmate's body cavity.

Once inside the prison, they are being used to traffic drugs, plan an escape, organize home invasions and put hits out on witnesses.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice created a forensics lab that can access the information stored inside confiscated cell phones.

Every call, text, and picture taken on the phone can be extracted.

The state prison system has also recently begin using electronic equipment to block calls to and from unauthorized phones, divert text messages and access to the Internet.

The equipment has been installed at two Texas prisons so far but there are plans for it to expand to others across the state.