Officers found 68 handmade knives during a shakedown at a locked-down prison Tuesday, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Channel 2’s Mark Winne reported last week that eight Georgia prisons were on lockdown because of gang problems.

Telfair State Prison Assistant Commissioner Tim Ward told the station that a lockdown means food gets delivered to cells instead of eaten in the cafeteria. Inmates are barred from recreation time, visitation and phone calls.

The commissioner said he wants to send a message to gang members and others that “We control the prisons. Not the gangs.”

Twenty-two tactical teams were called in for the search at the South Georgia prison, where officers found about 68 weapons made from various pieces of metal and other materials. About 33 gallons of homemade liquor and five cellphones were also recovered, Channel 2 reported.

Warden Phil Hall said he takes contraband such as weapons seriously and the knives recovered remind him of Officer Larry Stell, who was fatally stabbed by an inmate at the prison.

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com