Drone carrying super-strength skunk cannabis for prisoners is seized after crash-landing in jail

On 20th December 2015 · Leave a Comment

Drone was found crashed in Bullingdon jail, in Oxfordshire, by prison staff
Aircraft also used to smuggle illicit mobile phones and charges to inmates
Prisoners are thought to have ordered illicit goods in time for Christmas
It comes as prohibited items were found in a drone in Strangeways prison

A drone carrying super-strength skunk cannabis for prisoners crash landed in a jail’s exercise yard.

The craft was found by prison staff at Category B Bullingdon jail, in Bicester, Oxfordshire.

The device was also carrying mobile phones and charges, as well as the drugs after being sent in by someone outside who was controlling it.

A carrying super-strength skunk cannabis crash landed in Category B Bullingdon jail, in Bicester, Oxfordshire

It is understood that prisoners had ordered the illicit goods in time for Christmas.

An insider told the Sun that the drone was in a part of the jail which didn’t have CCTV.

The source said: ‘It was well-planned. We’ve no idea how many times this method of smuggling has been used before.’

Glyn Travis of the Prison Officers Association said: ‘Drones are a major security issue. They are being used more frequently. It was only luck that this one crashed before it could be emptied.’

This isn’t the first time a drone has been used to smuggle illicit items into a prison.

Just last month prison staff found a drone, which had crashed into Strangeways prison yard, carrying a parcel stuffed with illicit items.

Parents who buy their children a drone for Christmas may have to register it with the authorities in the future, the Department for Transport warned.

The hobby aircraft are expected to be one of the most popular gifts this Christmas.

But ministers are preparing a major crackdown on their use amid growing fears about safety and privacy.

The Government plans to tighten the rules after becoming so concerned by the failure to keep up to date with the use of drones among the public.

A consultation to begin next week will look at ‘regulation, registration and licensing options and a database to increase transparency on the use of drones for the general public’.

In a written response to the Tory MP Mark Pritchard, Robert Goodwill, a transport minister said that records of permissions given to fly commercial drones were already kept.

But he said they were looking to introduce the option for the devices flown by people for leisure.

He said: ‘We will be looking to address these issues without placing unnecessary bureaucratic burden on their emerging industry. We intend to consult on all of these issues and other possible solutions.’