Six BNI officers sacked, one demoted
Six operatives of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) were dismissed after an internal investigation uncovered how staff allegedly supplied mobile phones and other prohibited items to suspects in custody, according to sources cited by 3News.
The case began on February 16, 2026, when an officer conducting routine checks found a suspect using a mobile phone inside a cell. The discovery raised concerns about security and how the device had entered a restricted facility.
Further searches uncovered at least six mobile phones, phone accessories and a screwdriver in two holding facilities. Mobile phones are generally prohibited in such cells because they can allow suspects to communicate outside the facility without authorisation and potentially compromise security operations.
Investigators later found the telephone number of a BNI operative written on the back of a playing card used by suspects. This prompted further inquiries into possible links between staff and the prohibited items.
According to the sources, the investigation established that some officers had been helping suspects obtain mobile phones and other unauthorised services in exchange for money.
Investigators also uncovered an arrangement through which suspects, with the assistance of compromised staff, received food from restaurants through relatives. The food packages were allegedly used to conceal mobile phones and accessories, bypassing established security procedures.
The findings pointed to possible misconduct by officers entrusted with securing suspects and enforcing the agency’s rules. Such conduct can weaken internal controls, expose sensitive operations to risks and undermine confidence in the agency’s custody procedures.
Eight operatives were investigated and subjected to internal disciplinary proceedings. After the process was completed, six were dismissed, one was demoted and another was exonerated.
The dismissals followed the disciplinary process and reflected the different outcomes reached in the cases of the eight officers.
Sources say the agency has since tightened internal controls, with an ongoing internal exercise involving polygraph tests and other measures intended to enforce discipline and ensure staff comply with established rules.
The case highlights the importance of strict supervision in detention facilities, where unauthorised communication devices and the involvement of staff in bypassing security procedures can create serious risks.
