Official figures reveal the number of drone incidents at prisons in England and Wales has risen almost tenfold since 2020, climbing to 1,063 incursions last year.
The Ministry of Justice has attempted to fight back against the often-brazen deliveries - which can even include household items such as shower gel and tomato ketchup - by introducing new counter-drone laws in January. But the huge value of drugs behind bars, where they can fetch three to five times their street value, has made it a key supply route for organised crime groups.
Figures published by the Ministry of Justice reveal that the number of drones sighted or reported around prisons in England and Wales more than doubled between 2022 and 2023.
Last year's total of 1,063 incursions was also more than double the total recorded between 2019 and 2021, in a sign of how use of the aerial smuggling route has increased.
The true figures are likely to be much higher given many successful drone deliveries go undetected.
Gangs have been known to fly more than £1m worth of cocaine and other drugs into a single prison over several night-time missions.
Denne historien er fra October 26, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 26, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Keep pledge on Britons held abroad, Lammy told
Families of prominent British prisoners detained abroad have urged the foreign secretary to deliver on pledges to help secure their release amid signs of growing resistance from diplomats.
Online brutality How grim genre is affecting young people
It took about 90 seconds for Rianna Montaque to see violence on her X account: a fight in a restaurant that escalated into a full-on brawl with chairs smashed over heads as bodies went sprawling.
Sleightholme soars as England end series on high
A disappointing calendar year for England has at least ended with a flurry of nine tries and a healthier looking outcome.
'We are going to suffer' Amorim warns United after fast start fizzles out
Ruben Amorim said Manchester United will have to \"suffer for a long period\" before their fortunes turn after his first game in charge ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw at Ipswich.
Leicester sack Cooper after five months in charge
Leicester City sacked Steve Cooper as manager yesterday after just five months in charge.
Guardiola admits he must 'find a way' to win again
Pep Guardiola is defiant that he will end Manchester City's five-match losing sequence, with the manager stating it is \"my responsibility\" to do so.
This joyless incoherence will utterly destroy any illusions
Amorim already knows the scale of the job. And the scale is: really very big indeed
Amorim gets taste of reality as Ipswich rally
It was plainly too good to be true. Or to last. There were 82 seconds on the stadium clock when the Ruben Amorim era at Manchester United was jumpstarted.
Dibling lights up bewildering day when goals were low points
For all that most people would have considered the result an inevitability, there was little that was predictable about this game.
Steady Slot 'We're definitely not getting carried away'
Arne Slot insisted Liverpool will not get carried away after soaring eight points clear of Manchester City, warning his players that Arsenal surrendered the same advantage last year.
