Courts crack down on drones delivering contraband to prisons

A man was jailed for four years and eight months after he used a drone in attempts to smuggle drugs and mobile phones into HMP Manchester. Credit: Michael Worrall

A specialist unit to stop drones being used to deliver contraband to prisons has been set up after the longest sentence of this type was handed down, according to the Ministry of Justice.

A joint operation between police and prison officers led to the arrest of Remo White-Channer and Romaine Gayle in August 2016.

The MoJ said the pair were jailed for six years and six months, and four years and four months respectively in March, for attempting to flood prisons across Hertfordshire, Suffolk and Kent with contraband worth around £48,000.

As part of a crime group they used drones to try and fly packages containing cannabis, spice and heroin, as well as phones into three different prisons.

The MoJ said the strong sentences send a clear message that those found flying drones into prisons will face significant time behind bars.

Further examples provided by the MoJ:

  • In December, Dean Rawley-Bell, 21, was jailed for four years and eight months after he used a drone in attempts to smuggle drugs and mobile phones into HMP Manchester.

  • In October, drug dealer Renelle Carlisle, 23, was jailed for three years and four months after he was caught outside HMP Risley in Warrington with a drone in his bag, trying to smuggle drugs inside.

  • In July, 37-year-old Daniel Kelly was locked up for 14 months for trying to supply offenders at HMP Elmley and Swaleside in Sheppey, HMP Wandsworth in London and HMP The Mount in Hemel Hempstead with contraband.