Fearing a possible repeat of the 2011 riot and an attack on staff from detainees , security teams from the Department of Immigration and Australian Customs swooped on Villawood Detention Centre , with teams of sniffer dogs , uncovering a cache of potential weapons , drugs , syringes and smart phones . Daily Mail Australia has been provided with first look at the items found during the operation , which sources say was sparked by concerns from security teams inside the facility , who 'd recently witnessed suspicious activity within the grounds and feared an attack against guards was imminent . Department officials suggest the swoop was ' a routine search ' but the raids on Monday uncovered several bags full of contraband from inside the facility , teams tipped off by security personnel which units to search . In one unit complex alone , there were four phones , concealed shears and half a dozen syringes . A joint operation by Customs and Immigration squads has headed off a feared attack from inside the walls of Villawood Detention Centre . The raids uncovered sharp utensils , wrapped up and hidden inside laundry powder tubs as well as more than a dozen mobile phones . These are contraband items found inside one of the unit complexes . Behind the barbed wire fences at Villawood Detention Centre , security officials had recently become concerned by suspicious activities by some detainees . There has n't been a major disturbance inside the centre for almost four years , when several asylum seekers sparked a full-scale riot and the complex was set alight . More than 500 people are housed inside Villawood at any given time . During the search , officers found garden shears wrapped up and concealed inside laundry powder tubs . Seized items also included drugs and drug paraphernalia , such as pipes and syringes . Officials also uncovered up to a dozen smart phones , which are prohibited and are still investigating how they were smuggled in . Deputy Secretary , Immigration Status Resolution Group , Cindy Briscoe said the Department is determined to stamp out the presence of illegal items inside detention centres . 'The Australian community has an expectation that we continue to maintain the safety and security of our detention centres , ' Ms Brisco said . 'This safety extends to detainees , staff and visitors to the centre . ' Sniffer dogs teams are taken through a kitchen inside the Villawood Detention Centre searching for hidden weapons and drugs . It 's alleged detainees hid the contraband inside chocolate milk tubs and even what was supposed to be deodorant spray cans . Investigators found shears , syringes , phones and drugs . More than 500 people are locked inside Villawood Detention Centre at any given time . 'We have a zero tolerance approach to criminal behaviour or the possession of contraband . ' Officials said the operation highlighted the clear benefits of working as one organisation as they moved toward full integration of Immigration and Customs on July 1 . ' I commend the Department and the Service for working together in such a well-organised and collegiate way on this search . It highlights the success we can achieve as one organisation , ' Ms Briscoe said . 'As well as searches conducted by our officers , we also employed the use of detector dogs to detect and locate prohibited items , which proved a highly effective tool for this environment . ' As yet , there is no word as to action to be taken against the perpetrators . The last major security scare at Villawood was in 2011 when five asylum seekers sparked a riot inside the facility , setting it alight . Two people were arrested last year during a protest outside the walls , over the proposed transfer of detainees to WA .
Shears , drugs and smart phones were uncovered during raids . Joint operation by Immigration and Customs sparked by security concerns that an attack on staff was imminent . Large number of smart phones were smuggled into the facility . In one unit block there were four phones found , shears hidden in laundry powder and half a dozen syringes . Charges are yet to be laid against detainees responsible . Last major incident inside the Villawood Detention Centre was in 2011 when five asylum seekers were jailed for setting it alight .