Troubled Wandsworth Prison was fooled by a gang who were able to run a £30m drug-dealing ring whole behind bars, according to the Independent newspaper., according to the Independent.

The paper's report that a £1m bribe to a 'fixer' and hacked laptops provided by the Ministry of Justice were used by the six-strong group adds to the under-scrutiny prison's woes.

The revelations appear to follow concerns about security made public by the Wandsworth Guardian earlier this year after months of exclusive reporting.

The Wandsworth Guardian revealed that an inmate was able to smuggle machine guns - the same weapons used in the Charlie Hebdo massacre - using a hidden phone.

Your Local Guardian:

Judge condemns Wandsworth Prison security after inmate imports machine guns from his cell

At that hearing Judge David Farrell QC said: "In my judgement the CPS should require the Ministry of Justice to conduct some sort of investigation in the security at Wandsworth Prison. 

"It beggars belief that someone so easily and quickly could obtain an illegal phone and conduct a criminal enterprise from prison.

"Wandsworth Prison had blatantly failed in their duty. This could only be as a result of inadequate security, incompetence or some dishonest members of staff."

Other Wandsworth Prison stories from the Wandsworth Guardian

Why are so many men dying inside Wandsworth Prison?

Master of disguise? Prison releases inmate 'in error'

Prisoner accused of murdering inmate at HMP Wandsworth appears at Old Bailey