Drone drug plot busted at Wandsworth prison! Three men have admitted to attempting a high-tech smuggling job, flying psychoactive drugs and mobile phones into London’s notorious Wandsworth prison using drones.
Public spots drone flying drugs into prison
In the early hours of 9 August 2016, around 3am, concerned members of the public spotted a drone buzzing suspiciously close to Wandsworth prison. They alerted police, triggering an investigation into a daring drone delivery.
Guilty pleas secured in drone smuggling case
Today at Kingston Crown Court, Jamie Duggan, 30, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle banned items and supply drugs inside the prison. His accomplices Kye Hardy-King, 28, and Craig Kearney, 30, had already admitted the charges at earlier hearings. The trio now awaits sentencing next month.
Crash, death and a cloud of drugs
After the public tip-off, officers intercepted Craig Kearney speeding away. Ignoring orders to stop, he crashed into a lamppost near Wandsworth Bridge Road. Kearney suffered injuries and was taken to hospital, but tragically his girlfriend, a passenger in the car, died.
Kearney was later jailed for eight years at the Old Bailey for causing death by dangerous driving.
Drone seized with stash of drugs and phones
At the crash site, police found a white, four-propeller drone. A search of Kearney’s car revealed 174g of herbal synthetic cannabis, nine miniature mobile phones, four USB sticks, cables, and a memory card stuffed in cellophane wrappers.
Forensic analysis traced the drone’s takeoff to Hardy-King’s Hounslow home. It flew for just over three minutes but hovered briefly at 110 meters above the prison before being brought back.
Messages reveal criminal conspiracy
Phones examined proved the men were tightly connected. One chilling text from Kearney read: “We gotta go n do duggy drone 2nite.” Duggan, serving time inside Wandsworth, was the intended recipient. Guards had already caught him with three mobile phones hidden in his cell on two prior occasions.
Paul Goddard, CPS: “Drones are a scourge on our prisons, smuggling in illegal substances and phones, undermining safety and security. The CPS has worked closely with police to dismantle this conspiracy. We take smuggling inside prisons extremely seriously and will continue to prosecute offenders.”
This case highlights the growing threat of drones used to feed contraband into secure facilities. Authorities vow tougher crackdowns as high-tech smuggling rises.
