Specialist police have nabbed a man suspected of using a drone to smuggle drugs into HMP Maidstone. The shocking discovery kicked off a major investigation into prison crime.
Drone Found With Drugs on Prison Grounds
On 21 January 2025, Kent Police were alerted after a drone was spotted on the prison grounds carrying a package loaded with illegal goods, including a large stash of cannabis. Detectives launched forensic tests and tracked down a suspect.
East London Raid Nets Cocaine and Arrest
On 2 October, officers raided a property in Plaistow, East London. They seized 50 wraps of suspected cocaine and arrested a 27-year-old man. He faces charges of smuggling contraband into prison and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
After questioning, the suspect was sent back behind bars for breaching his licence conditions from a previous conviction.
Crackdown on Prison Crime Continues
Kent’s Prison Crime Investigation Team, based in Sittingbourne, works closely with all seven county prisons. So far in 2024, the team has secured more than 94 years of sentences plus a life sentence for various offences.
Detective Inspector Scott Machin said: “Criminal activity behind bars doesn’t just affect those inside – it fuels violence and extends criminal networks threatening our communities.”
“By stopping drug smuggling into prisons, we strike at organised crime’s core and help keep our streets safer.”
“We have an excellent relationship with local prisons and share a strong commitment to protecting the public.”
