Drone drops knives, drugs and contraband inside New York prison, prompting security crackdown
TOI GLOBAL | Mar 19, 2026, 19:42 IST
A drone drops knives, bandannas and hair clippers into a New York prison
A drone dropped a package containing knives, drugs and other contraband inside Marcy Correctional Facility in New York. Staff recovered the items and called police to investigate. The incident has renewed calls from officials and Gov. Kathy Hochul to criminalize illegal drone use near prisons as authorities warn that drone smuggling is becoming a major security threat.
Officials in New York are investigating after a drone dropped a package containing weapons, drugs and other contraband inside the secure perimeter of Marcy Correctional Facility, raising renewed concerns about the growing use of drones to smuggle illegal items into prisons.
According to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, staff spotted a drone flying over the facility shortly after 1 a.m. on March 14. The drone released a package between dormitory buildings inside the prison’s fenced security area before leaving the scene.
Officers quickly secured the package and alerted investigators. Authorities said wires were visible on the outside of the bundle, prompting the New York State Police bomb squad to respond to make sure the package did not contain explosives. After determining the item was safe, officials opened it and found multiple pieces of contraband.
The package reportedly contained two eight-inch double-edged knives, more than a pound of a green leafy substance believed to be drugs, several sheets of paper soaked in intoxicating chemicals, a cellphone, hair clippers with chargers, and bandanas. Officials said the materials were wrapped in plastic and balloons, a common method used in smuggling attempts.
Investigators later recovered the drone outside the facility, but authorities have not yet identified who was responsible. The case has been turned over to the department’s Office of Special Investigations, and the inquiry is ongoing.
Corrections officials warned that drones are becoming one of the biggest security threats facing prisons. Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III said contraband deliveries can lead to violence, drug abuse and serious safety risks for both staff and inmates.
Following the incident, officials voiced support for a proposal by Kathy Hochul to strengthen laws targeting illegal drone activity near correctional facilities. The plan would create new criminal charges for flying drones over prisons and give law enforcement expanded authority to detect, intercept or disable unmanned aircraft that pose a threat.
Union leaders representing corrections officers said the use of drones to deliver weapons and drugs has increased in recent years as prisons tighten other smuggling routes. They are urging lawmakers to approve stricter rules, including banning drones within several hundred feet of correctional facilities.
Authorities say drone smuggling is not a new problem. Federal reports have documented dozens of drone incidents at prisons across the United States, though officials believe the true number is higher because many attempts go undetected.
The Marcy Correctional Facility has already been under scrutiny in recent years over allegations involving staff misconduct and inmate deaths, which led to calls for reform of the state prison system. The latest drone incident adds to concerns about safety and oversight at the upstate New York facility.
State officials say preventing contraband deliveries will remain a priority as technology makes it easier for smugglers to bypass traditional security measures.
According to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, staff spotted a drone flying over the facility shortly after 1 a.m. on March 14. The drone released a package between dormitory buildings inside the prison’s fenced security area before leaving the scene.
Officers quickly secured the package and alerted investigators. Authorities said wires were visible on the outside of the bundle, prompting the New York State Police bomb squad to respond to make sure the package did not contain explosives. After determining the item was safe, officials opened it and found multiple pieces of contraband.
The package reportedly contained two eight-inch double-edged knives, more than a pound of a green leafy substance believed to be drugs, several sheets of paper soaked in intoxicating chemicals, a cellphone, hair clippers with chargers, and bandanas. Officials said the materials were wrapped in plastic and balloons, a common method used in smuggling attempts.
Investigators later recovered the drone outside the facility, but authorities have not yet identified who was responsible. The case has been turned over to the department’s Office of Special Investigations, and the inquiry is ongoing.
Corrections officials warned that drones are becoming one of the biggest security threats facing prisons. Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III said contraband deliveries can lead to violence, drug abuse and serious safety risks for both staff and inmates.
Following the incident, officials voiced support for a proposal by Kathy Hochul to strengthen laws targeting illegal drone activity near correctional facilities. The plan would create new criminal charges for flying drones over prisons and give law enforcement expanded authority to detect, intercept or disable unmanned aircraft that pose a threat.
Union leaders representing corrections officers said the use of drones to deliver weapons and drugs has increased in recent years as prisons tighten other smuggling routes. They are urging lawmakers to approve stricter rules, including banning drones within several hundred feet of correctional facilities.
Authorities say drone smuggling is not a new problem. Federal reports have documented dozens of drone incidents at prisons across the United States, though officials believe the true number is higher because many attempts go undetected.
The Marcy Correctional Facility has already been under scrutiny in recent years over allegations involving staff misconduct and inmate deaths, which led to calls for reform of the state prison system. The latest drone incident adds to concerns about safety and oversight at the upstate New York facility.
State officials say preventing contraband deliveries will remain a priority as technology makes it easier for smugglers to bypass traditional security measures.