The Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales has issued a stark warning about the growing threat of drones being used to smuggle contraband, including lifestyle drugs like Ozempic and minoxidil, into jails. Charlie Taylor revealed that organised crime gangs are using advanced technology to deliver packages with alarming accuracy, creating huge problems for staff.
From Hair Loss Pills to Bales of Cannabis
Mr Taylor disclosed that a security chief at an unnamed prison sent him a detailed list of items recently smuggled in by drone. The list was astonishing in its variety, ranging from illegal narcotics to prescription medications. Alongside typical illicit substances like bales of cannabis, ketamine, cocaine, and ecstasy, the drones were also delivering lifestyle drugs.
These included minoxidil for hair loss and the diabetic medication Ozempic, which is often sought for its weight-loss side effects. The chief inspector also confirmed that anabolic steroids used by bodybuilders are being air-dropped into prison grounds.
Technology Fuelling the Crisis
The problem is exacerbated by rapid advancements in drone technology. Mr Taylor explained that modern drones can now carry packages weighing up to 10kg and are guided with pinpoint precision using location services like What3Words.
This has allowed gangs to drop large amounts of contraband into specific areas, often making enormous amounts of money in the process. The situation is so severe that at HMP Manchester, inspectors found prisoners had been dismantling electric kettles to melt holes in newly installed perspex windows, specifically to receive drone deliveries.
A Looming Threat of Weapons and Explosives
Mr Taylor expressed his profound concern that the next logical step for criminals is to use drones to smuggle far more dangerous items. He warned that the remote-controlled aircraft could easily be used to deliver guns, explosives, or other weapons to inmates, potentially facilitating a prison break.
The scale of the issue is monumental. At HMP Manchester alone, there were 220 drone sightings reported in the 12 months leading up to October 2024, the highest number of any prison in England and Wales. The criminal activity even extends beyond the prison walls; workers for a company that fitted windows at HMP Manchester were reportedly threatened in their own homes by gangs.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick told The Times that prisons are 'under siege' and urged the government to deploy existing anti-drone technology immediately. This security crisis compounds the strain on the prison system, highlighted by the recent accidental release of 91 prisoners between April and October this year, which Justice Secretary David Lammy described as symptomatic of a system under horrendous strain.
