Drone deliveries from above are bringing cell phones, narcotics, and tobacco inside prisons.
The South Carolina Department of Corrections claims they battle drones every night, but deputies apprehended a repeat offender suspected of several airdrops over the weekend.
The Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office conducted a manhunt Friday night after the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office reported that Arnez Thompson flew a drone over the perimeter fence of the Evans Correctional Institute in Bennettsville. Thompson allegedly used the drone to drop commodities such as cell phones and chargers, methamphetamine, and cigarettes.
Officials contacted the CCSO’s bloodhound team, and K-9 Dallas was able to locate Thompson.
“We put Dallas on the ground and she picked up on a live track—she tracked 30 to 40 minutes and she led us right to the suspect, who was laying down in the woods,” said Justin Sigmon, a CCSO deputy.
According to officials, Thompson has done the same thing in two other state prisons.
According to a spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections, it often fights these flies.
“They] are sophisticated and can fly five miles or longer, which makes it hard to catch the people who operate these illegal drones,” the South Carolina Department of Transportation claims.
Authorities said they utilize drone detection equipment and their own drones to track down criminals. The government reports 202 drone encounters this year alone.
