Overview
- Corrections staff at Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville seized a drone-delivered package containing raw steak, crab legs, Old Bay seasoning, marijuana and cigarettes, sharing photos on X with the hashtag #ContrabandChristmas.
- The drone was recovered and an investigation is underway, with authorities saying no arrests have been announced.
- The South Carolina Department of Corrections says staff regularly counter drone smuggling attempts, calling contraband a persistent danger to facilities and inmate safety.
- State law makes flying a drone near a prison a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail, while dropping contraband is a felony carrying up to 10 years.
- Lee Correctional has grappled with repeated drone drops, including a 2022 probe that led to 20 arrests and 12 seized drones, and officials note similar tactics are being reported internationally.