A man is now in jail for using drones to smuggle drugs and phones into prisons in Surrey and the South East.
Mahamood Diallo Blin received a sentence of almost seven years on February 24th. He admitted to drug, phone, and tobacco smuggling.
Two prisons found crashed drones in 2022 and 2023. Coldingley prison in Bisley discovered drones in 2022, and Pentonville prison in London found them later. Inside were drugs and phones, and police began investigating in 2023.
The police uncovered 37 more drone incidents involving drugs and other items flown into prisons in the South-east. Pentonville, High Down, and Swaleside prisons were among those affected.
Investigators used forensics to identify Blin, and he was charged with several crimes on March 5th, 2024.
Smuggling negatively impacts the UK prison system. Drugs and phones are highly valuable inside, making smuggling profitable for criminals.
A police detective stated that Blin’s sentence is serious and hopes it deters other criminals. She added that smuggling increases violence in prisons and harms inmates with addiction issues.
Officials have noted that drones are an increasingly popular smuggling method for criminals to get items into prisons.
The South East Prison Intelligence Unit is working diligently to stop items from entering prisons via drones. They collaborate with the police to stop individuals like Blin and reduce the harm he caused.