Prison Guards Intercept Drone Drop of Steak, Crab Legs, Pot
In this undated photo, items dropped by a drone into the Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville, South Carolina, are shown. (South Carolina Department of Corrections via AP)
Just weeks before Christmas, a corrections officer at Lee Correctional Institution in South Carolina made an unusual discovery in the prison yard: a drone-delivered package filled with food and drugs. Authorities say the bundle included a raw steak still sealed in grocery packaging, crab legs, marijuana, cigarettes, and even a tin of Old Bay seasoning.
The South Carolina Department of Corrections shared details of the incident on X, using the hashtag #ContrabandChristmas, according to the Associated Press. Officials said the drone was recovered Sunday morning after dropping the package inside the Bishopville prison grounds.
An investigation is underway, though no arrests have been made so far. A prison spokeswoman joked that the inmates waiting for the delivery were likely disappointed. “I’m guessing the inmates who were expecting the package are crabby,” she said.
Keeping contraband out of prisons remains a constant challenge for corrections officials. In the past, people attempted to smuggle in cellphones, drugs, and other prohibited items by throwing packages or launching them over fences with makeshift catapults. In response, Lee Correctional Institution raised its perimeter fences and installed netting along the top.
Smugglers have since turned to drones, forcing officials to closely monitor prison yards and nearby areas for the small aircraft. Under South Carolina law, flying a drone near a prison is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail. Dropping contraband into a correctional facility is a felony that can carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
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