Drugs, mobile phones and SIM cards dropped by drone at Risdon Prison

DRUGS, mobile phones and SIM cards were attached to a drone which crash-landed in Ridson Prison, the Mercury can confirm.

The Risdon Prison complex. Pictue: KIM EISZELE

DRUGS, mobile phones and SIM cards were attached to a drone which crash-landed in Ridson Prison, the Mercury can confirm.

And Tasmania’s Justice Department has called on Tasmania Police to investigate who was driving the ill-fated drone last week.

The Tasmanian Prison Service also is investigating which inmates were involved in organising the drone drop.

The drone incident is seen as a significant escalation in the technology now being used to smuggle contraband into the prison, reflecting a growing trend in the US.

New statistics show there were 257 seizures of unauthorised items last year including drugs, mobile phones, tattoo guns, improvised weapons and “prison brews” — an increase from last year.

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The Mercury revealed the incident last Friday.

In a statement, a Department of Justice spokesman outlined what the drone was carrying.

“A search undertaken by TPS (the Tasmanian Prison Service) recovered contraband in the form of a mobile phone and accessories and a small quantity of illicit drugs transported by the drone in an area not accessible to inmates,” the spokesman said.

“This seizure is another example of increased success by the TPS in recent years in intercepting contraband before it reaches the prison population.

“The investigation of the person who controlled the drone from outside the prison has been referred to Tasmania Police.

“Prison staff are also investigating which inmates were involved in organising the drone drop.”

Tasmania Police did not respond to Mercury questions.

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The Justice spokesman said contraband was an issue affecting prisons throughout the world and continued to be an important issue in the management of prison security in Tasmania.

In April this year a whistleblower revealed hardened criminals were using a phone smuggling racket to share selfies with the outside world.

Issues with drones in US prisons have increased in recent years, but incidents in Australia have been rare.

In NSW Wales last year there were six reported cases of drones flying over prisons.