Drone images have revealed how criminal gangs are using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to flood Scottish prisons with illicit drugs and weapons, as reported by the Daily Record. Intercepted by the Scottish Prison Service, these drones have been customised to transport a payload of drugs, mobile phones, sim cards, and chargers into HMP Perth. While authorities have managed to intercept nine drones so far this year, an additional 66 have been observed flying around jails, with many more believed to have successfully delivered illegal goods, potentially worth tens of thousands of pounds. The parcels carried by these drones are suspected to be intended for distribution to various gangland customers, in collaboration with external criminals.
The influx of drugs into prisons exacerbates violence, intimidation, and coercion within correctional facilities, with incidents of gangland violence escalating by 72% over the past two years. Gang-related contract violence has reached a staggering £3 million, and the number of organized crime group members inside prisons has surged by 21% in just a year, with 653 individuals contributing to chaos on a daily basis. Violent episodes have risen significantly, from 95 in 2022 to 163 this year, marking a 72% increase in two years. The use of drones for transporting drugs and weapons has surged from 7 incidents in 2022 to 67 so far this year, highlighting a tenfold rise.
Tony Martin, the Divisional Head of Operational Delivery at the Scottish Prison Service, commended the staff’s vigilance in preventing more drugs from entering prisons. Emphasizing the value of the illicit substances trafficked inside prisons, Martin noted that the drugs of choice are poly substances that can contain multiple drugs within a single pill. The operation of serious organized crime groups is behind the influx of contraband, posing a significant risk to prison security and exacerbating violence among inmates.
The modus operandi involves a pilot outside the prison flying the drone to a specific cell, where a prisoner awaits the delivery, potentially guided by a mobile phone. The items are then retrieved either through the cell window or by authorities on the ground after a crash landing. Law enforcement has been promptly notified of these incidents, leading to the arrest of suspects outside prison premises.
In conclusion, the use of drones to smuggle illicit goods into prisons underscores the intricate network of crime groups operating both inside and outside correctional facilities. The alarming rise in gang-related violence and the escalation of criminal activities behind bars pose a significant challenge to prison authorities and law enforcement agencies, necessitating enhanced surveillance and intervention strategies to curb the influence of organized crime within the prison system.