A significant amount of illegal substances and forbidden items, cleverly concealed with grass clippings, was discovered by authorities at a correctional facility in Mission, British Columbia, as reported by Correctional Services Canada (CSC). The intercepted package contained approximately 300 grams of suspected methamphetamine, bottles of suspected steroids, unidentified pills, razor blades, and an iPhone with a glittery case. Prison guards uncovered the package during their routine morning checks on April 8.
CSC estimates the total value of the items within the package, considering the inflated prices inside the prison environment, to be around $165,000. The Mission Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have initiated an investigation into the incident. In a press release, the RCMP mentioned that the package was likely transported by a drone over the Mission Institution fence during the nighttime and dropped into the prison yard.
The disguised package was covered with real grass on the outside of a bubble-mailer, blending seamlessly with the surrounding grass within the institution’s perimeter, according to the press release. John Randle, the Pacific regional president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, highlighted that drone deliveries into British Columbia’s nine federal facilities are a daily occurrence, with the sophistication level of such operations continually advancing.
Randle noted that the use of grass camouflage is common, with some packages resembling trash or items like a discarded chip bag. In some instances, drugs are concealed inside deceased birds like pigeons or crows and dropped into the prison compound. The ongoing technological advancements in drone operations pose a challenge for prisons and guards, especially amidst concerns over the impact of $132 million in budget cuts to Correctional Services Canada (CSC). Randle expressed worries about the potential reduction in on-ground corrections officers, exacerbating the difficulties in responding to drone drop incidents.