In the first of its kind, a drone carrying drugs, mobile phones and weapons into a high security prison in the United Kingdom has been seized after the operator crashed the remote-controlled aircraft into a jail wall.
The device was spotted by guards at HM Prison Bedford after it crash landed into razor wire on top of the it's walls. A DJI Phantom 2 was quickly removed by the guards which costs up to 900 pounds and found a package attached containing class 'A' drugs, a knife, screwdriver and mobile phones.
The incident was made public after the drone crash-landed at the 500-capacity category B prison on March 6. Prison bosses around the UK are now on high alert for copycat schemes using the remote-controlled aircraft.
"This is the first time I have heard of a drone being used to get banned items into a prison."
"Whoever was flying it obviously needs a bit more practice as they've crashed it into to the top of the wall, but it's put everyone on high alert that this is something that could happen again," a prison source was quoted as saying to The Telegraph.
"Nobody had been arrested in connection with the incident," a Bedfordshire police spokesman said.
"We were called to reports that a small drone had been discovered alongside a package in netting above a perimeter wall at HM Prison Bedford at 11.30pm on March 6," he added.
"Both the device and the contents of the package are currently being examined, and investigations are on-going to identify the offender. We are working closely with the prison to investigate this incident," spokesman said.
A prison service spokesman said the package was ‘quickly intercepted by vigilant staff’.
The drone used in the smuggling bid can stay up in the air for just under an hour and has a range of just over 2,600 feet. Smugglers have targeted the prison on numerous occasions in the past, but usually throw packages over the walls for prisoners to pick up on their exercise breaks.
Drone experts have said operators need a ‘high level of skill’ to be able to fly drones with pinpoint accuracy.
Image: A DJI Phantom 2
