A drone modified to drop fishing lures as contraband, a basketball stuffed with tobacco and phones, and knives were among the items displayed as part of a successful initiative to combat drone smuggling at Kingston, Ont., prisons. This effort showcased just a fraction of the illicit goods confiscated by a joint task force comprising local law enforcement and correctional personnel working to thwart illegal activities behind bars.
Led by Sgt. Jonas Bonham, the Kingston Police Intelligence Unit collaborated with Correctional Service Canada (CSC) and the Canada Border Services Agency to tackle the surge in drone smuggling, significantly reducing local drone drops. The task force, the first of its kind in Canada dedicated to countering drone smuggling, has been instrumental in disrupting the evolving tactics used by inmates and criminal syndicates to introduce contraband into prisons.
Drone smuggling, which emerged in Canadian prisons around 2016, escalated rapidly, with over 1,000 incidents reported last year alone. Kingston, with its four penitentiaries, including the notorious Collins Bay Institution, became a focal point in combating this illicit activity. The proximity of Collins Bay to accessible locations for launching drones, such as a nearby grocery store parking lot, made it an attractive target for smugglers seeking to blend in while conducting their operations.
Smugglers have employed various tactics to evade detection, including disguising packages with fake grass, using white fabric for winter concealment, and mimicking sports equipment like the basketball filled with contraband. Deliveries have even been attempted directly to cell windows, prompting CSC to enhance infrastructure to prevent such occurrences.
The task force unveiled a surge in weapon drops, with ceramic blades and traditional steel blades posing significant threats within the prison environment. The inflated value of contraband inside prisons, coupled with the potential profits, has led to fierce competition among criminal factions vying for control over airspace near correctional facilities.
Former inmate Lee Chapelle, now running Canadian Prison Consulting Incorporated, emphasized the alarming implications of drone smuggling, describing it as akin to a ticking bomb due to the wide range of contraband it can transport. The proliferation of illicit items inside prisons poses risks of violence and debt among inmates, prompting authorities to enhance their strategies to address the growing technological challenges posed by drone smuggling.
Law enforcement has intensified efforts to combat drone smuggling, upgrading charges from simple mischief to mischief endangering life to reflect the severe consequences of introducing contraband into correctional institutions. As Kingston Police continue to refine their tactics and share expertise with other agencies nationwide, the task force’s success in Kingston serves as a model for addressing drone-related challenges in prison settings.