Cops foil $1m drone drug drop into prison
Queensland police say the drone carried ice, GBL and prescription drugs, with investigators alleging the haul was worth more than $1 million.
- A 47-year-old man was charged on Monday over an alleged drone delivery of more than $1 million in drugs into the Townsville Correctional Centre, Queensland Police confirmed following the discovery in May.
- Officers discovered the drone carrying methylamphetamine, GBL, various prescription drugs, syringes, a glass pipe, and a mobile phone; police allege the package was destined for prisoners inside the facility.
- Townsville Correctional Complex general manager Silvi Baretta credited the discovery to "our officers' diligent adherence to security search practices." A 2022 incident involved a crashed drone carrying 617 Suboxone strips worth $250,000.
- Facing five counts of supplying dangerous drugs into a correctional facility, trafficking, and drone-related offenses under the Corrective Services Act, the accused confronts serious charges. Detective Acting Inspector Erica Gray emphasized that "preventing drugs from entering correctional facilities is critical to the safety of staff, prisoners and the broader community."
- On Tuesday, the man is expected to appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court facing the charges. Authorities continue working with law enforcement partners to identify others involved in the illicit operation.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
$1 million worth of drugs allegedly dropped by drone into Queensland prison
The drone carrying methylamphetamine and other drugs was discovered by prison guards.
Man charged after drone drops drugs into big house
A man has been charged after a brazen attempt to smuggle a million-dollar payload of drugs and associated paraphernalia into prison was intercepted. A drone carrying a package allegedly containing methylamphetamine and GBL (gamma-butyrolactone), a variety of prescription drugs, syringes, a glass pipe, a mobile phone and SIM card was intercepted on May 17 inside Townsville Correctional Complex. Joint investigations conducted by officers from the …
Man charged following attempted drone drop of illicit drugs into prison
Detectives from the Corrective Services Investigation Unit (CSIU) have charged a man following investigations into a drone located inside the Townsville Correctional Centre, carrying a package containing over $1 million of illicit drugs and utensils. On 17 May, Queensland Corrective Services Custodial Correctional Officers located the drone, which had a package attached that allegedly contained amounts of methylamphetamine and GBL, a large quant…
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