An inmate has been caught using his girlfriend to smuggle methamphetamine into prison by taping it inside a baseball cap

Paul Malcolm Johnson thought his girlfriend and a fellow inmate's girlfriend could sneak a parcel of drugs past guards during a "contact" visit at Northland Regional Corrections Facility.

However, the two women were denied a contact visit when they showed up with the contraband in May 2019.

Prison officers then searched the women's vehicle, finding the drugs stashed away.

Johnson appealed his two year and three month jail sentence, saying it was unreasonable, but appeal judges have thrown out his case.