Nashville, Tennessee --- Officials with the Tennessee Department of Correction, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Department of Safety today are conducting a system wide search of West Tennessee State Penitentiary titled "Operation Clean Sweep." The multi-agency investigation has been in the works for more than six months and is designed to identify and eliminate contraband within the prison including cell phones, illegal drugs and weapons.

This morning before dawn, nearly a dozen teams assembled at the National Guard Armory in Covington , Tennessee and entered the prison without warning. In all a total of 300 prison officers, troopers and agents are involved in the search including 34 drug dog teams from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Metro Nashville and Jackson Police Departments.

Over the course of the day, these teams will conduct a saturation search of the entire premises including cells, vehicles and inmate property. Additionally, these teams will frisk inmates and employees to ensure no contraband has been brought into the secure perimeter.

Those who are found to be in violation of the law will face charges. Inmates will be processed at the prison, and may face additional criminal charges. If there are employees arrested, those individuals will be taken to the Lauderdale County jail.

Additional information will be available on this Web site as well as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Web site as Operation Clean Sweep continues.

The Tennessee Department of Safety's mission is (www.tn.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.