Drone Delivery Disrupted at South Carolina Prison
Inmates at Lee Correctional Facility in Bishopville, South Carolina, were left disappointed this week after authorities intercepted a drone intended to drop off supplies for a festive meal, described as an “early holiday Old Bay crab boil and steak dinner.” This was shared in a post on X by the state’s Department of Corrections.
The intercepted package contained not just steaks and crab legs, but also Old Bay Seasoning—essentially a classic for seafood lovers. To top it off, there were two large bags of cigarettes and marijuana in the mix.
Reportedly, the contraband was captured early on Sunday morning, raising eyebrows about the level of planning involved. “Apparently, some people were all set for an early holiday feast complete with crab, steak, marijuana, and cigarettes, all dropped from a drone,” the post noted.
Correctional officials, staying vigilant, managed to recover the drone along with its cargo. Notably, there have been no arrests in connection with this incident. “We come across a lot of strange items in these packages, but this is a bit out of the ordinary,” commented SCDC spokeswoman Christy Shane in a chat with Fox News. She added, “I think the inmates who were looking forward to this went a little wild.”
This isn’t just a one-off occurrence. The SCDC, along with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, has been battling ongoing drone activity at the facility. Shane pointed out, “Contraband poses a significant threat to prisons nationwide. We’re continually fighting against night-time drone deliveries of dangerous drugs, often fentanyl and methamphetamine, into the prison yards.” They have also acknowledged putting in extraordinary efforts to combat this issue.
In fact, a lengthy investigation last year at Lee Prison led to 20 arrests and the seizure of 12 drones, alongside 100 pounds of various contraband. There were even reports of three abandoned drones found in the woods near the prison’s perimeter.
Lee County Sheriff Daniel Simon emphasized the growing threat posed by larger drones, which are capable of carrying heavier loads. “We’re working hard to keep them out of the wrong hands,” he stated.
