A young prison officer and two inmates now face serious allegations, accused of orchestrating a complex smuggling operation within the walls of HMP Brixton. The case unfolded in Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, revealing a web of charges that include drug trafficking, misconduct, and financial crimes.
Shannon Day, 24, along with Bertil Baluba, 34, and Mark McBain, 62, stand accused of conspiring to introduce a significant quantity of cannabis into the prison between September and October of 2022. The charges don’t stop there; they are also alleged to have plotted to smuggle “Spice Paper” – a dangerous method of delivering the synthetic drug spice – into the facility.
The alleged scheme extended beyond drugs, with the trio facing accusations of conspiring to deliver prohibited items: three mobile phones and accompanying cables. For Day, the charges are particularly severe, as she is also accused of misconduct in public office, betraying the trust placed in her as a prison officer.
Specifically, Day is accused of collaborating with an inmate to bring contraband into HMP Brixton on October 24, 2022. Further compounding the allegations, she faces charges of possessing cannabis on the same date, alongside accusations of fraud related to her employment at the prison.
The fraud charge centers around allegations that Day deliberately concealed visits to other prisons – HMP Lewis and HMP Maidstone – in an attempt to secure her position at Brixton. This alleged deception raises questions about her initial vetting and the extent of her planning.
Baluba’s involvement deepens with an additional charge of possessing a mobile phone within HMP Brixton on October 20, 2022. Investigators also allege he engaged in money laundering, transferring £2,170 into Day’s bank account during the period of the alleged conspiracy.
The case is set to proceed to Croydon Crown Court on January 7, 2026, promising a detailed examination of the evidence. Day has been granted bail, with a strict condition preventing any contact with her alleged co-conspirators.
HMP Brixton, a Category C men’s prison, now finds itself at the center of this scandal. The allegations paint a disturbing picture of potential corruption and the challenges faced in maintaining security within the prison system.
