Prison officers in Tieling, Liaoning province, are selling alcohol to prisoners and accepting bribes from prisoners' relatives, news portal people.com.cn reported on Monday.

The provincial prison administration in Liaoning confirmed on Wednesday that a drug ring was found inside the prison and several prisoners are under investigation. The administration said no prison officers were involved in drug trading.

However, the prison officers are selling alcohol to prisoners, and are being bribed to grant favors, people.com.cn reported, citing prison visitors.

Alcohol was being sold at 10 times the original price, the report said.

Visitors were also quoted as saying that bribes helped reduce the prisoners' workload and protected them from bullying.

The report also claimed that the prison was a favored location as relatives tried to bribe officials to send inmates there.