Μake us preferred on Google A drone carrying a package packed with communications devices was intercepted on Thursday while approaching a prison in Larissa, central Greece, authorities announced a day later.
Guards stationed around the perimeter of the prison spotted a UAV approaching the inmates’ exercise yards while transporting a package. The prison’s anti-drone system was immediately activated by prison officers, disabling the drone and causing it to crash into the yard of one of the prison wings. Both the drone and package were recovered.
A subsequent inspection found 12 mobile phones, four wireless routers, three data-storage devices, 18 charging cables, 10 wired phone headsets, 12 adapters, two Bluetooth wireless headsets with two replacement units and 21 SIM cards.
A preliminary investigation is being conducted by the local police directorate.
Similar incidents have been recorded in the past and were also detected and thwarted by prison staff before prohibited items could be delivered. The latest incident highlights the increasing use of modern methods by criminal gangs to smuggle contraband into prisons, as well as the authorities’ efforts to counter such attempts with hi-tech tools.
The Larissa prison used an anti-drone system known as “Teukros,” developed by the Greek armed forces. One of the systems was successfully activated during Thursday’s incident.
An additional 25 units of the more advanced “Teukros II” anti-drone systems are on order. The systems will be deployed at correctional facilities and lockups across Greece to further strengthen security against drone-based smuggling.
