A multi-state, 17-count federal indictment charges a sophisticated drone-smuggling operation based in Macon, Georgia, that delivered contraband to ten federal prisons using high-powered drones between 2023 and 2026.

The operation allegedly used at least six drones to drop methamphetamine, synthetic marijuana, Suboxone, cocaine, cell phones, tobacco, cigarettes, drug-infused papers, and weaponized items like saw blades into prisons across Georgia and several other states.

Twelve defendants were indicted on June 10 for trafficking drugs and firearms and coordinating the drone-smuggling scheme across ten federal prisons in Georgia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi.

The broader response includes multi-state efforts and federal actions such as the Safer Skies Act, which provides resources to detect, disrupt, and disable rogue drones through FEMA grants, FBI training, and a new DHS office, signaling increased federal-state collaboration to address drone-related prison security risks.

Authorities utilized drone detection systems to trace the flights, including information on drone makes, models, and launch locations, and tracked activity from 2023 to 2026.

Officials described the case as the most sophisticated and sprawling drone-contraband operation charged by the Department of Justice to date, highlighting the ongoing threat to prison safety and surrounding communities.

Prison inmates reportedly coordinated with outside drone operators by sending maps and guidance via illegal phones to facilitate deliveries and escapes, with some drops recovered by officers within minutes and others disappearing.