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Two people were arrested on suspicion of attempted drug smuggling using a drone, according to reports. At about 11:30 PM on February 26 deputies spotted several suspicious vehicles outside of a Washington County, Georgia prison.
Upon further investigation, deputies found a man and a woman with a large drone. The drone had packages affixed to the bottom using zip ties. A press release issued by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office noted that the suspects appeared to be attempting to smuggle contraband into the prison.
The suspects will face many felony charges including trafficking in methamphetamine and marijuana. They’ll also face six counts of possession with the intent to distribute a Schedule II drug among other charges.
This is not the first attempt to use a drone to smuggle contraband into a prison. Across the US, these ubiquitous technologies are being deployed for nefarious purposes. These narcodrones pose a serious threat to the security of correctional facilities and to the safety of inmates, law enforcement, employees, and families because of the difficulty of detecting and interdicting these devices.
The sheriff’s office is adamant about its commitment to crack down on contraband smuggling. They emphasized that deputies will continue to be “relentless” in ensuring prison security and safeguarding the community.
Substance use disorders are prevalent in jails and prisons across the US. The smuggling of illicit substances to inmates is a persistent problem that continues to undermine prisoners’ chances of reintegrating into society and building healthy and successful lives after incarceration.
The good news, though, is that addiction recovery programs are available for persons involved in the criminal justice system. State and federal prison systems offer access to medication assisted treatment (MAT) and recovery education and counseling to incarcerated persons and to those who are transitioning out of prison.
Drug diversion programs are also widely available across the nation for those who are facing charges for drug related offenses. These programs enable eligible persons to enter treatment for drug or alcohol addictions rather than facing imprisonment.
