Overview
- Guards at Lee Correctional Institution recovered a drone and a package containing raw steak, crab legs, marijuana, cigarettes and Old Bay seasoning, according to the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
- Authorities posted photos of the seized items on X and said the incident is under investigation, with no arrests reported so far.
- State officials say they regularly confront drone smuggling attempts, describing nightly efforts to deliver drugs and other contraband into prison yards.
- South Carolina law makes flying a drone near a prison a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail, while dropping contraband is a felony that can carry up to 10 years.
- The episode highlights an ongoing security problem at Lee CI, which has a history of violence and past contraband crackdowns, and mirrors drone-smuggling cases reported in other countries.