Drone goes drug smuggling

Drone Packed with Drugs, Phones and Knife Flown into a British Jail

A drone has been used in a daring night-time attempt to smuggle drugs and weapons into a high security jail. The plan was only thwarted when the machine became entangled in razor wire on a security wall and was then spotted by staff at Bedford Prison.

It is the first known case of a remote-controlled aircraft being used to infiltrate a British jail. The Chinese-made machine was carrying a package containing drugs, mobile phones, screwdrivers and a knife. Prison staff spotted it on the razor wire and managed to retrieve it.

One theory is that the ‘pilot’ planned to direct the drone to a spot where it could hover outside a cell window. A prisoner might then have been able to reach out and grab the illicit cargo.

The miniature aircraft are already a major concern to police, who want to be given powers to seize them if they suspect they are being misused.

The one flown into Bedford Prison two weeks ago was a DJI Phantom 2 Vision, which weighs just 2.5lbs but has a range of nearly half a mile.

The device is fitted with a wide-angle camera and can be bought online or at an electrical retailer for around £900.

A Bedfordshire Police spokesman said: ‘We were called to reports that a small drone had been discovered alongside a package at HMP Bedford at 11.30pm on March 6.

‘Both the device and the contents of the package are currently being examined and investigations are on-going.’

The jail can contain around 500 inmates.