The abuse of drones for contraband smuggling purposes has now reached Greek prisons, with reports from the country citing two incidents in the last two days, where drones were mis used to bypass prison security.
Authorities in Greece have confirmed that they are investigating two drone-related incidents at correctional facilities after attempts to smuggle prohibited items were detected and partially intercepted within a 48-hour period.
The first incident occurred Saturday morning at a prison in Drama, northern Greece, where a drone approached the facility while inmates were in the yard. A guard on duty identified the unmanned aircraft in time and activated a drone jamming system.
This triggered a signal disruption that forced the drone to crash within a restricted zone before it reached the inmates.
Officials recovered several items from the drone, including five mobile phones, six SIM cards, a multi-tool knife, wired and wireless earphones, charging cables, and three light bulbs.
All items were confiscated, and an investigation is underway to identify those involved.
The second incident was reported on Sunday at another prison in Larissa, Central Greece, where the errant drone did successfully land in the yard.
Authorities detected an inmate attempting to retrieve the package, prompting immediate searches in nearby cells.
During the operation, officers found two mobile phones and two SIM cards, while additional charging cables were recovered from the drone itself.
The authorities said the incidents demonstrate how drones are increasingly being used to bypass traditional security measures and deliver contraband into correctional facilities.
The General Secretariat for Anti-Crime Policy said the response to both incidents highlights the effectiveness of upgraded security systems.
Counter-drone technology, already installed in several prisons, played a critical role in preventing the delivery in the first case.
