A significant quantity of illegal substances and forbidden items cleverly concealed with attached grass clippings was discovered by prison officials at Mission Institution in British Columbia, as reported by Correctional Services Canada (CSC). Among the contents were 300 grams of suspected methamphetamine, bottles of presumed steroids, unidentified pills, razor blades, and an iPhone encased in sparkles. The package was detected during routine morning patrols on April 8.
CSC estimates the total worth of the package within the prison, where prices are considerably inflated compared to outside values, at $165,000. The Mission RCMP have initiated an investigation into the matter. According to a news release by the Mounties, the package was likely flown over the fence of Mission Institution during the night using a drone and dropped into the prison yard.
The release states, “The package was cleverly disguised by attaching real cut grass around the entire exterior of a bubble-mailer, helping it to seamlessly blend in with the grass inside the fenceline of the institution.” John Randle, the Pacific regional president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, revealed that drone deliveries into the federal institutions of British Columbia happen on a daily basis, with an increasing level of sophistication.
Randle mentioned that the use of grass camouflage is a common tactic, with some packages made to appear as trash or even hidden inside deceased birds for delivery. He expressed concerns about the challenges faced by prisons and guards in keeping up with advancements in drone technology, especially in light of the $132 million in budget cuts within CSC. The potential reduction in the number of corrections officers on duty at any given time is seen as exacerbating the issue of responding to drone drops, according to Randle.