EXCLUSIVE: Drones used to burn Limerick Prison yard netting for drug drops

LIMERICK Prison officers have foiled two attempts to smuggle thousands of euros worth of drugs and miniature phones by drone drops, in the space of five days, the Leader has learned.

A prison source said there have been “multiple incidents of drone activity” since the two seizures this month.

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“There is mesh netting so it is a significant challenge to get through it. Since the seizures  they have been flying the drones over the prison in scoping exercises to see where the netting is. 

“What is happening is one drone will fly over with a ball of fire to burn through the netting and then another drone will come in, drop a package through the hole into the yard below. It is a far cry from when they used to put drugs inside a football and kick it over the wall,” said the source.

Prison officers seized packages on September 6 and 10 before they could get into criminals’ hands. They contained thousands of euros worth of tablets and heroin, a number of fob phones which are “no bigger than the size of your thumb” and chargers.

“They were quite significant seizures for Limerick. The value of contraband inside the prison would be a lot more,” said the prison source.

The Leader understands that one of the seizures came from a tip-off. Authorities appeal to prisoners, visitors, staff or members of the public with information on the trafficking of prohibited items into prisons to pass on that information in the strictest confidence.

There is a free confidential telephone line (1800 855 717) and text line (086 180 2449).

Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Niall Collins welcomed the seizures and praised Limerick Prison staff.

“Phones allow criminals to contact associates on the outside and continue to run their nefarious activities so it is crucial that they are kept out of prisons. 

“Drugs are a scourge on our society. Many are in prison due to the sale and supply of drugs, or addiction to  drugs so the availability of drugs to men and women serving sentences cannot be tolerated. 

“Prison must be a place to help people get free from the stranglehold of drugs,” said Mr Collins.

An Irish Prison Service spokesperson said they  are committed to preventing the access of contraband into prisons and it continues to be a high priority for the prison service.

 “The Irish Prison Service has committed to continuing to invest in new technologies and measures to support our efforts to keep contraband out of prisons.

“The Irish Prison Service continues to have high level engagement and the sharing of intelligence with An Garda Síochána on a regular basis which is resulting in the seizure of contraband, arrests and significant disruption to organised crime involved in smuggling contraband into Irish Prisons.

“Prison staff have increased the use of random and intelligence-led cell searches on a daily basis,” said the spokesperson.