Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre at Wacol had the highest number of contraband items found in the past financial year, with 458 items.

Among the items uncovered at the Wacol correctional centre were 68 items of alcohol (which could include brew), 230 drugs and/ or drug implements, 11 drug test decoys (balloon, glove finger), nine electronic devices (which could include mobile phones), 39 shivs or weapons, 26 smoking products or smokeless tobacco and 24 tattoo guns or implements.

There were 31,934 visitor scans and searches at Arthur Gorrie and 920 positive indications to illicit drugs on visitors.

Coming in second place for the highest number of items found was Woodford Correctional Centre, with 415 items of contraband.

Female prisons were not immune to contraband seizures. The Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre had 11 items of alcohol discovered, 168 drugs or drug implements, 58 items of other (for example currency, clothing), one weapon and 41 smoking products among the items found.

Across the 17 locations, drug or drug implements were the most common item seized with 1161 items, followed by other (for example currency, clothing) at 490 items and then tattoo gun or implements with 351 items.

There were also 16 items of pornography found at Queensland prisons and 156 shivs or weapons.

In 2015-16, there were 2840 positive indications for illicit drugs on visitors across the state's prisons and 2508 incidents of contraband discovery in correctional centres.

The year prior, there were 3437 positive indications for illicit drugs on visitors and 2183 incidents of contraband discovery.

The data was revealed in answers to a questions on notice tabled to Queensland parliament.

Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan said the safety and security of all correctional centres for prisoners, staff and visitors was of paramount importance to the government.

Mr Ryan said one of the ways safety was maintained was by conducting numerous searches for drugs and contraband.

"This is important not only for prisoners and staff safety, but also in helping prisoners get off drugs and stopping the cycle of recidivism," he said.

"Prisoners are also subjected to random and targeted drug testing.

"Criminal history checks are undertaken on visitors, along with searches to guard against illicit drugs or contraband items being taken into correctional facilities.

"It would be naive not to think people would be trying to sneak drugs into prisons."

At a minimum, 15 per cent of the total number of cells at a secure correctional centre are searched each week.

Cell searches are random or targeted due to intelligence received, and prisoner mail is searched.

"Prisoner accommodation is searched by trained custodial staff; often with the assistance of passive alert drug detection dogs," the answer to the question on notice reads.

Mr Ryan said the number of Corrective Services employees rose from 2229 in 2013 to 2770 in July 2016.