New York (WRGB) — A drone flying over Marcy Correctional Facility early Saturday dropped a package of contraband inside the prison’s secure fence, prompting a response from the New York State Police Bomb Squad and renewing calls from state corrections officials and unions to restrict drone activity near prisons.
The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said staff detected the drone at about 1 a.m. Saturday, March 14. DOCCS said the drone released a package between dormitory buildings inside the facility grounds, and staff quickly recovered it and notified the New York State Police and the DOCCS Office of Special Investigations.
Because wires were protruding from the package, the State Police Bomb Squad responded to make sure it did not pose an immediate threat. After it was deemed safe, DOCCS said the package was opened and found to contain two eight-inch, double-edged knives; about 530 grams of a green leafy substance; five full pieces of paper saturated in intoxicating chemicals; one cell phone; two hair clippers with chargers and accessories; and four bandanas.
DOCCS said the drone used in the incident was recovered outside the facility. The investigation remains ongoing, and DOCCS said anyone identified as responsible will face criminal prosecution.
DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III said,
Contraband introduced into correctional facilities fuels violence and puts both staff and the incarcerated population at risk. The use of drones to deliver weapons, drugs, and cell phones is an evolving but imminent threat that our correctional system is facing as we continue to close off other means of introducing contraband into our facilities. I want to thank our staff at Marcy for their quick and decisive action this weekend to ensure the safety and security of our facility. DOCCS is working closely with our union partners to support Governor Hochul’s legislation, which would provide important tools to prevent unlawful drone activity and better protect those who live and work inside our facilities every day. I strongly encourage the Legislature to approve this critical public safety proposal.
DOCCS said it supports Gov. Kathy Hochul’s FY27 Executive Budget proposal aimed at addressing the growing threat of drones being used to deliver contraband into state correctional facilities.
NYSCOPBA President Chris Summers said,
The use of drones for illegal activities, such as smuggling contraband into correctional facilities, has become a growing threat to the safety of everyone inside our prisons. As staff members have heightened their vigilance in stopping contraband from entering through inmate visits and packages, drones are increasingly being used to deliver dangerous drugs, weapons, and other illicit items to inmates. This trend poses a serious risk to the safety of both staff and inmates. We fully support the Governor’s proposal to criminalize the use of drones within 500 feet of correctional facilities, and we urge the State Legislature to stand behind this critical initiative. I also want to commend the staff at Marcy Correctional Facility for their excellent work in detecting the drone and preventing dangerous contraband, including drugs, weapons, and a cell phone, from reaching the inmates.
Council 82 Local President Russell Fox said, “The introduction of dangerous contraband fuels violence within prison walls, undermining safety for both staff and incarcerated. With drones emerging as a new tactic for smuggling these items, it is critical that proactive measures are taken to mitigate this growing threat. Council 82 Local 2951 supports Governor Hochul’s legislation to mitigate this threat.”
CSEA President Mary Sullivan said,
CSEA strongly supports Governor Hochul’s legislation to help aide and mitigate the growing safety threats that drones pose to the staff and incarcerated individuals within the DOCCS system. This legislation would help to establish restricted areas of the use of drones, allow the agency to detect, address and abate their unlawful interference in daily operations and more effectively deter future attempts to utilize drones as vehicles for delivering dangerous contraband within the correctional facilities.
NYS Public Employees Federation President Wayne Spence said,
Drone-delivered contraband is a dangerous and rapidly evolving threat inside our correctional facilities. When drugs, weapons, or toxic substances make their way behind the walls, it puts everyone at risk — including the civilian workforce that keeps these facilities operating every day. PEF members, such as teachers, counselors, and nurses, work in close contact with incarcerated individuals, and we have already seen a troubling rise in assaults and exposure to dangerous substances.
DOCCS said the governor’s proposal would strengthen the state’s ability to address illegal drone activity by prohibiting drones used “in a nefarious manner” and restricting drone activity over sensitive locations including correctional facilities; establishing new criminal offenses for unlawful drone activity; expanding the authority of trained law enforcement agencies to detect, intercept and disable drones that pose a public safety threat, with mitigation actions reported to State Police; and directing State Police to establish a registry known as the New York State Blue List for approved drones and drone mitigation technology that may be purchased by the state.