Drug-Dealing Drone Hits Up Prison

A man was charged this weekend
for allegedly flying a drug-carrying quadricopter
drone “in
the vicinity” of a maximum-security prison in Australia.

The Verge
reports:

Victoria police said that the unidentified suspect and a woman
were found in a car Sunday afternoon with “what was believed to be
a drone with four engines and a small quantity of drugs.” The drone
had been “hovering in the vicinity” of a prison near Melbourne,
though it’s not clear whether any drugs or other contraband were
actually delivered. The 28-year-old suspect has been charged with
drug possession and attempting to commit an indictable offense, and
is due to appear in court next week.

Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill
told the Melboure Herald Sun, “It’s a concern that
elements within society would use different technologies to further
their criminal pursuits. At the same time, Victoria Police will be
engaging in advancing our capabilities through different
technologies to ensure that we’re one step ahead of these criminal
elements.”

Several outlets note that this is not the first time someone has
attempted to smuggle substances into the pen by means of unmanned
aerial vehicles around the world. The Verge
highlights a heroin delivery in Russia and
according to Vice magazine, Canadian clinks have had
numerous drone-related security breaches. Even in the U.S., last
November a team of four tried to get tobacco over the fence of a
Georgia prison.

These enterprising, if not particularly bright, individuals do
spark some inspiration for a business plan.

In light of of a federal court
limiting the Federal Aviation Administration’s authority to
regulate commercial drone use, the kick-off of CannaSearch, the
first
ever job fair for the legal marijuana industry, and the

numerous states currently considering either decriminalization
or legalization, how long could it be before the
pipe dream of reputable drone-delivered dro service becomes a
reality somewhere in the Land of the Free? And you thought
drone-delivered tacos and
beer
were the next cool thing.