U.S. Prison Security can't seem to figure out how to stop drones from delivering drugs and guns to inmates...

December 14, 2025

Organized crime syndicates are increasingly turning to drones to smuggle drugs, weapons, cellphones, and even luxury foods into correctional facilities across the United States, posing what officials describe as an unprecedented "threat from above."

"We're under attack every single day when it comes to combating this issue," Tyrone Oliver, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections, told reporters. "It's a threat from above."

The surge in drone incursions has turned prison yards into battlegrounds for contraband deliveries, bypassing traditional security measures like razor-wire fences and perimeter patrols. In Georgia alone, authorities reported a record 71 drone incidents last month—the highest ever recorded. During one interview with officials, a fresh drone drop was reported just 30 miles away.

The problem extends nationwide. A recent bust in Georgia, dubbed Operation Skyhawk, dismantled a major smuggling ring that relied heavily on drones. The investigation led to over 150 arrests—including inmates and prison staff—and the seizure of contraband valued at more than $7 million.

These aerial deliveries not only fuel violence and drug epidemics inside prisons but also enable crimes beyond the walls. In one high-profile case, smuggled cellphones allowed a Georgia inmate to orchestrate a multistate scam that defrauded victims—primarily women in healthcare—of over $500,000.Robert Green, executive director of the American Correctional Association, called drone drops "an immediate threat" affecting facilities coast to coast. "It is a serious, evolving, and not an imminent threat—it is immediate. We are in the throes of it right now," Green said.

Legal hurdles exacerbate the challenge: Federal Aviation Administration rules classify drones as aircraft, prohibiting prison staff from shooting them down or jamming signals without special authorization.Recent incidents underscore the creativity—and danger—of these operations. In South Carolina, guards intercepted a drone delivering steak, crab legs, Old Bay seasoning, marijuana, and cigarettes to Lee Correctional Institution, thwarting what appeared to be a planned holiday feast.Experts warn that advancing drone technology, including models capable of lifting heavy payloads, could escalate risks further, potentially enabling escapes or more lethal deliveries.

As correctional officials push for new counter-drone technologies and policy changes, the skies over America's prisons remain a contested frontier in the fight against contraband.

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