Man arrested for using drone to try to smuggle drugs into a prison

An Australian man has been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle drugs into a prison using a drone.

The unmanned aerial vehicle was discovered hovering in the vicinity of a Melbourne-based prison. It had four engines and was carrying with it a “small quantity of drugs,” according to police.

The man was charged with possessing a drug of dependence and attempting to commit an indictable offense. He is due in court next week.

While his attempt was certainly brazen, it’s not the first time this aerial technology has been used as a means for committing illegal activity. In November, four people were apprehended after a remote-controlled helicopter was used to fly tobacco into Georgia’s Calhoun State Prison. That same month, a drone was sighted above a prison in Quebec, though no one was arrested.

Members of the Australian parliament are actively trying to put together some legislation around the issue of drones and privacy. During a recent roundtable meeting, Brad Mason, secretary of the Australian Certified UAV Operators Association, said there was “a lot of illegal and unauthorized use of UAVs.”

“We understand that the regulator is doing its best to try and combat that but, unfortunately… they are so easily available and so cheap to buy these days that anybody can buy one and anyone can go out and operate one.”

Story via: bbc.co.uk