Sign up for the battlefordsNOW newsletter

Drugs dropped by drone into Regina jail

Feb 18, 2017 | 9:30 AM

A drone was used to drop drugs into the Regina Correctional Centre.

It happened about two weeks ago. The delivery was intercepted by staff so the package never made it to the hands of inmates.

“Obviously we’re committed to keeping contraband from coming in to our facilities so we take this incident very seriously and we are investigating it,” said Drew Wilby with the Ministry of Corrections and Policing.

But with an investigation underway Wilby wouldn’t provide any other detail.

“Due to the security concerns with this situation there is not a whole lot more I can say at this time.”

But “drone drops” are a serious concern as jail guards deal with new technology.

“Obviously it doesn’t happen very often. This, to my knowledge, is the first drone drop of this nature in Saskatchewan, so it is very concerning to us,” Wilby said.

Barring putting a bubble over correctional facilities there is little that can be done to prevent drone drops, but Wilby said they rely on frontline staff to be their eyes and ears on the ground.

“Staff did a fantastic job and intercepted the drop.”

The matter is now in the hands of police.

 

smills@cjme.com

On Twitter: @smillsSK