Drone-Dropped Package Foiled At South Carolina Prison

In the somber landscape of Lee Correctional Institution, a prison yard, a drone-dropped package was discovered by a vigilant guard, three weeks prior to Christmas. The illicit delivery, facilitated by a drone, was publicized by the South Carolina Department of Corrections on a social platform, accompanied by the hashtag # ContrabandChristmas. According to authorities, the package contained a raw steak, still encased in its grocery store packaging, crab legs, Old Bay seasoning, plastic baggies of marijuana, and cartons of cigarettes.

This assortment of goods, intended for an early holiday feast, was meant to be enjoyed by inmates within the prison walls. Chrysti Shain, a prisons spokeswoman, offered a wry remark, suggesting that inmates anticipating the package were likely “crabby” upon its confiscation. The utilization of drones to smuggle contraband has become an increasingly prevalent concern for corrections officials, necessitating constant patrols of the prison yard and surrounding areas to detect and deter these tiny aircraft.

In South Carolina, flying a drone near a prison is considered a misdemeanor ___se, punishable by up to 30 days in jail. However, the act of dropping contraband into a prison is classified as a felony, potentially resulting in a ← →