Drone fails to deliver contraband into prison, crashes outside wall

By Les Shu August 1, 2014

Unmanned aerial vehicles, affectionately known as drones, are seen as a potential new way to deliver goods in the future, but here’s one idea that may not fly (or take off…or have wings…har har). Back in April, a drone attempted to deliver contraband into a maximum security prison, only to crash before breaching the walls.

The drone was trying to carry phones, marijuana, and tobacco into the Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville, South Carolina. Prison authorities found the drone wreckage outside the facility, and have been investigating the case since April. Now, they have arrested a 28-year-old man, and charged him with “attempting to introduce contraband into a prison and possession of the drug flunitrazopam, a muscle relaxant knows as ‘roofies,’” according to Reuters (the suspect claims he has never seen a drone before). Investigators are still seeking a second suspect.

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While this may be the first known case of its kind, sneaking contraband into a prison is nothing new. In fact, the Reuters report says illegal cellphones, which are tossed over walls, have become a major concern, as they are used order hits, among other things.

Judging from this failed attempt, the suspects may have had better luck hiding a metal file inside a cake. But, sooner or later, somebody is going to make a successful attempt using a drone.

(Via Betabeat)

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