Overview
- Guards at Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville intercepted a drone drop on Sunday and seized the aircraft and its load, authorities said.
- The package included a raw steak, crab legs, Old Bay seasoning, large bags of marijuana and multiple cartons of cigarettes, according to an SCDC photo.
- The South Carolina Department of Corrections said an investigation is underway and no arrests have been announced.
- Corrections officials report frequent attempts to airlift contraband, prompting measures such as raised fences, netting and constant yard patrols.
- State law penalizes flying a drone near a prison with up to 30 days in jail, while dropping contraband carries a potential 10-year felony sentence, with similar aerial smuggling reported in other U.S. and international facilities.