Drones dropping drugs, weapons and mobile phones continue to plague jails, with most evading capture

By JOHN PAUL BRESLIN, WEEKEND NEWS EDITOR - SCOTLAND Published: 19:09, 16 May 2026 | Updated: 19:14, 16 May 2026 The majority of drones flying into Scottish prisons are evading capture, with just eight recovered last year as gangsters smuggle in weapons and drugs. The Scottish Mail on Sunday has previously covered the illicit trade supplying convicts. Contents found in the payloads have included an array of materials infused with drugs, such as powders, tablets, gels, putty, resins, pastes, crystals and paper. These ‘poly substances’ can test positive for three or four different drugs each and have been found in dangerous concentrations. Drones are also often laden with mobile phones, SIM cards and memory sticks as gangs look to orchestrate their criminal empires from behind bars. Other drones seized have been found to contain ‘ceramic blades’, Stanley knives and a ‘lock knife’. Now, Scottish Prison Service (SPS) data shows just eight drones were recovered last year out of 75 spotted by staff. Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr MSP said: ‘These shocking figures confirm weak SNP ministers are still failing to get a grip on the soaring use of drones in Scotland’s prisons estate. Drones are being flown over prisons including HMP Barlinnie in Glasgow ‘John Swinney’s government cannot keep turning a blind eye to this issue and must put robust measures in place to stop drones infiltrating Scotland’s prisons.’ In 2024, there were 71 reports of drones recorded by the SPS. The contents of 29 were recovered, while only 18 of the drones were seized. In 2025, there were slightly more, with 75 being reported. Of these, the contents of 19 were recovered with just eight seized. The figures show the challenge the service faces in tackling drones, which it has made reference to on numerous occasions. Such is the extent of the issue that it has even featured in BBC Scotland series Inside Barlinnie, which has explored daily life at the notorious Glasgow jail. Gangsters use drones to smuggle drugs and weapons into prisons In one episode, the prisoners on an entire level of the jail were kept in their cells as staff carried out a search for contraband. The hunt came after a drone was spotted near the second level at around 2am that day. It was feared that, as had happened before, the drone had flown a package of drugs, weapons and mobile phones right up to a prisoner’s window for them to collect.  Michael Stoney, governor of HMP Barlinnie, has said the situation is ‘very concerning because there could be anything in the packages they’re dropping off’. Similarly, Gillian Walker, governor of HMP Shotts, has said crooks can fly drones into prisons ‘from miles away’, making it very difficult to find those responsible. The SPS has argued that not all drones are flown over jails with criminal intent. However, it said for those that are part of an illicit trade, it uses a range of preventative measures, including grilles on the windows of some prisons. An SPS spokesman said: ‘Any attempt to bring illicit substances into our establishments, including by a drone, poses a significant threat to the health and wellbeing of those in our care.’ The Scottish Government said it continues to support the SPS’s work to adapt its security measures ‘to prevent, detect and deter the introduction of contraband’. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.