The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has now confirmed that a high-value package of illicit drugs discovered on the grounds of the Atlantic Institution, a maximum-security facility in Renous, New Brunswick, last month, was delivered by drone.
On December 9, 2024, prison staff found a package containing $405,500 worth of crystal methamphetamine, shatter, MDMA (ecstasy) and marijuana. At the time, CSC’s public statement only mentioned that the package was found, declining to elaborate on its delivery method. However, in recent comments to the media, a CSC spokesperson acknowledged that the package had been dropped by a drone.
The revelation aligns with earlier reports from the RCMP detachment in Blackville, N.B., which confirmed that prison staff had alerted police to a potential drone sighting near the facility on December 8, 2024. Despite the alert, no drone was recovered at the scene.
Since the discovery, the CSC states that no additional packages have been found at the Atlantic Institution. However, when pressed about the frequency of drone-related incidents, the agency admitted it does not specifically track seized drones across its facilities.
“If a drone crashes and is seized, it would currently be captured under the seized item category of ‘Other,’” the CSC stated. “CSC is currently exploring enhancements to its reporting systems in order to be able to begin tracking seized drones.”
A growing trend
This incident adds to a troubling pattern of drone-assisted smuggling attempts at federal institutions in Canada.
In October 2024, CSC reported 35 drone-related incidents at institutions in the Atlantic region between January 1 and July 31 of that year. Other notable cases include a May 2024 seizure at the Springhill Institution in Nova Scotia, where $475,000 worth of crystal methamphetamine, part of which was suspected to have been delivered by drone, was confiscated.
Another high-profile incident occurred on August 11, 2022, also at Springhill, where packages containing contraband valued at $750,000 were discovered near the prison’s perimeter. After initially withholding details, CSC later confirmed the items were dropped by a suspected drone. The seized items included a variety of drugs, tobacco, cellphones, SIM cards and other contraband.
Drones have become a favored method for smuggling contraband into prisons due to their ability to bypass traditional security measures. The use of drones poses unique challenges for correctional institutions, including detection and interdiction.
The CSC has acknowledged the need for improved tracking and reporting systems, and steps have been taken to enhance drone detection capabilities in federal institutions. In October 2024, CSC Commissioner Anne Kelly stated that a surge in drone incidents has led to the installation of drone detection measures at all federal prisons.
The $405,500 seizure at the Atlantic Institution serves as a reminder of the sophisticated methods employed by those attempting to smuggle contraband and the ongoing challenges faced by correctional facilities in combating these efforts.
Post Image Credit: Correctional Service of Canada
