A Greenwich man who used a drone to smuggle drugs, mobile phones, and tobacco into multiple prisons has been sentenced to six years and 11 months in jail.
Mahamood Diallo Blin, 26, of Charlton Church Lane, Greenwich, was arrested following a joint investigation by Metropolitan Police and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU).
Drone Crashes Led to Investigation
The case began when prison staff discovered a drone crash inside HMP Pentonville in August 2023, containing drugs and a mobile phone. Upon investigation, authorities linked the drone to a previous crash at HMP Coldingley in Surrey in 2022.
Further digging revealed that Blin was involved in 37 incidents where contraband—including Class A drugs, tobacco, and mobile phones—was flown into prisons.
Blin was arrested on March 5, 2024, and later charged with:
- Conspiracy to convey Class A drugs
- Conspiracy to convey mobile phones
- Conspiracy to convey tobacco
He pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court and was sentenced on February 24, 2025.
Authorities Warn of Serious Risks
Detective Inspector Zara Baker, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said:
“The Met is focused on tackling drug dealing as we know it fuels other crime and anti-social behaviour across London.
Smuggling illegal drugs into prison increases the risk of violence towards staff and inmates. It also hinders rehabilitation efforts for those affected by addiction.
Blin’s sentence reflects the severity of his offences, and we hope it sends a clear message that offenders will be brought to justice.”
A spokesperson from SEROCU’s South East Prison Intelligence Unit added:
“Tackling the use of drones for smuggling contraband is a priority. By working with the Metropolitan Police Service and HM Prison & Probation Service, we have successfully stopped a major offender.
We will continue to work together to disrupt activities that fuel organized crime inside prisons.”
Authorities continue to monitor prison security and urge the public to report any suspicious drone activity near correctional facilities.
