PARIS: In a clandestine operation, authorities in southern France intercepted a drone attempting to deliver packages to inmates, shedding light on a broader trend of illicit deliveries to prisons across France.
The incident, which occurred in early 2023, prompted the dismantling of a business named “Drone2France,” responsible for supplying goods to over a dozen prisons in France and Belgium. Inmates had been placing orders via Snapchat, paying approximately 450 euros ($490) per package, with a maximum weight of 350 grams (12 ounces).
Notably, the drone’s cargo often included contraband like drugs and mobile phones, delivered in potato sacks. Another scheme, named “Air Colis” (“Air parcel”), uncovered in western France, employed a method of lowering contraband using socks attached to fishing lines.
In a separate case in southern France, authorities seized parcels containing significant quantities of cocaine and cannabis, highlighting the scope and seriousness of the illicit drone deliveries.
Prison guards described a pervasive issue, with hundreds of drone deliveries occurring annually over prison grounds. Dominique Gombert of the prison guard union FO Justice remarked, “There isn’t a day when there isn’t a drone flying over, whether on the mainland or in overseas territories.”
Last year alone, over 1,000 drones were detected in flight over penitentiaries, with 400 successfully intercepted, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Prison guard union representatives provided insights into the mechanics of drone deliveries, noting that operators often positioned themselves within a two to five-kilometer radius from the prison, with accomplices monitoring the surrozndings.
Wilfried Fonck, secretary-general of the prison guard union Ufap-Unsa Justice, highlighted the precision of these deliveries, with drones navigating right up to prison windows guided by inmates shining lights.
The items requested by inmates ranged from drugs and mobile phones to more unconventional items like kebabs, ceramic knives, and religious books. Delivery services advertised directly on social media and could retrieve goods from acquaintances of inmates.
Despite efforts to counter drone incursions, including investment in specialized equipment, French authorities continue to face challenges. Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti revealed that the government had allocated over 12 million euros ($13 million) towards anti-drone measures, including detectors and electromagnetic scramblers.
However, as Gombert emphasized, operators of drone delivery services continually innovate to evade security measures, presenting an ongoing challenge to prison authorities.
The situation underscores a cat-and-mouse dynamic, with authorities striving to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated methods employed by drone operators in a bid to smuggle contraband into prisons.
