BISHOPVILLE, S.C. – Guards at Lee Correctional Institution intercepted a drone carrying a holiday meal and contraband intended for inmates, spoiling what officials described as a “Contraband Christmas.”
The package included raw steak, crab legs, a tin of Old Bay seasoning, small bags of marijuana, and cartons of cigarettes. Officials believe the inmates were planning a festive crab boil and steak dinner, accompanied by the illicit items. The drone was caught Sunday morning before it reached the prison yard.
South Carolina Department of Corrections spokeswoman Chrysti Shain joked that the disappointed inmates are likely feeling “crabby” now. The incident highlights the growing challenge prisons face with drones being used to smuggle contraband, replacing older methods like tossing packages over fences.
Flying a drone near a South Carolina prison is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail, while dropping contraband carries a felony sentence of up to 10 years. No arrests have been made, and authorities are investigating the incident.
Lee Correctional Institution, a high-security facility in Bishopville, has a violent history, with two inmate deaths reported last week and a deadly riot in 2018. Officials continue to monitor contraband threats, which can escalate violence and power struggles among inmates.
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