Drone flies drugs into HMP Lowdham – police response seizes UAV, drugs and mobile phone

Nottinghamshire – A drone was seized, and a drugs delivery intercepted following a failed drop-off into a prison.

Fast-acting officers made two arrests within minutes of a call coming in about a drone ( UAV – unmanned ariel vehicle ) flying above HMP Lowdham Grange.

Prison officers alerted police to a potential drugs drop-off after spotting the device flying overhead, just after midnight on Friday (10 January).

These suspicions were quickly proven correct when staff inspected the prison grounds and located a package near where the drone had been.

A variety of drugs, a mobile phone, and other items were all found inside it, which police suspect had been flown over the prison walls moments earlier.

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At the time this discovery was being made, Operational Support officers had already made their way to the area and spotted a vehicle that aroused their suspicions in Woodborough.

After switching on their blue lights and pulling the vehicle over in Lingwood Lane, the officers made the decision to search it, at which point a drone was found in the boot.

A bubble-wrapped package containing cannabis and mobile phones was also in the car with the drone, which matched the description of the one seen above the prison.

The vehicle’s occupants – a 25-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman – were both arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs and conveying a prohibited article into a prison.

Detective Sergeant Rachel Mayfield, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“This was a great example of our policing teams working with our partners, in this case staff at HMP Lowdham Grange, to achieve a positive result.

“By maintaining good communication throughout, they, between them, managed to seize quantities of drugs and a drone, while also identifying and detaining two suspects.

“Taking illicit substances, including drugs, inside a prison is an extremely serious offence that can cause a whole host of risks for both inmates and prison staff alike.

“This is clearly not acceptable, and anyone found to be involved in doing this should expect to find themselves in trouble.”