Drone delivers firearm and contraband at Canadian prison

According to the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, a suspected firearm and other contraband were delivered by drone to the Mission prison in British Columbia, Canada.

On Thursday night, an illegal drone delivery triggered a lockdown at the Mission Institution, a medium-security jail. According to the Union of Correctional Officers, a drone delivered what seems to be a firearm, telephones, and narcotics. The Correctional Service of Canada is now investigating the use of drones to transport contraband.

The federal jail, situated around 45 miles east of Vancouver, was subjected to an “exceptional search” by officials.

“The search was ordered to ensure the safety and security of the institution, its staff, and inmates,” said the CSC in a release.

According to the CBC, an official statement made later on Friday said that the matter “has now been resolved” and that a search of the jail is proceeding “in an effort to find any contraband or unauthorized items to ensure the safety and security of the institution.”

According to John Randle, regional president of the UCCO, the threat at the Mission Institution was downgraded late Friday.

“From my understanding … they’ve removed the ballistic threat so now they’re searching for contraband,” he said.

Randle said that the CSC was most likely searching for smartphones, narcotics, or other tiny weapons that a drone may have delivered.

According to Randle, drone technology is fast advancing, and unmanned aircraft can now carry greater payloads allowing them to transfer more items.

“Some institutions across the country are seeing at least one drone drop a day, if not more,” he said. “In our region … every few days, we’re seeing a drone drop of some sort.”

He claims that it is difficult for correctional institutions to keep up with technology and that they need more employees and more funds to combat drones successfully.

Randle warned that drone drops are occurring “at an alarming rate,” and he urged federal authorities to take more immediate action.

In an earlier statement, Randle said, “Correctional officers at Kent Institution, Mountain Institution, Matsqui Institution and Mission Institution have been working hard to detect and intercept drone drops before the contraband makes its way into the institutions. But it’s time for CSC and the federal government to take this threat to all federal penitentiaries seriously.”

You can read more stories about drone incidents here on DroneXL.

Photo courtesy of Raferty Baker / CBC.