Drone Drug Smuggler Busted and Jailed at Erlestoke Prison

A brazen drug runner who tried to fly narcotics into Erlestoke Prison using a drone has been locked up for over three years.

Caught Red-Handed After Drone Delivery Attempt

Oliver Onyeahasi, 26, from Bristol, was jailed for 40 months after admitting to a string of drug supply offences involving Class A, B, and C drugs.

In the early hours of 1 October 2023, police swooped on Erlestoke Prison following reports of a suspicious low-flying drone. The aerial device was believed to be smuggling a package inside the prison grounds.

Officers quickly spotted a man sprinting towards the main road and chased him down. Onyeahasi was arrested after tossing away the drone controller in a desperate attempt to escape. Both the drone and its cargo were seized.

Police Praise Teamwork in Foiling Smuggling Plot

“This case is an excellent example of partner agency work between HMP Erlestoke staff and police officers to detain Onyeahasi and two other individuals, and subsequently bring Onyeahasi – the principal offender – to justice,” said Detective Inspector Steve Edwards, Wiltshire Police’s lead for prison crime.

“Our officers are dedicated to rooting out criminal activity within prison grounds. I’m pleased the courts sent a clear message with a prison sentence for these serious offences. The ongoing cooperation between the prison and Wiltshire Police is crucial in protecting both inmates and the public.”

Government Cracking Down on Drone Smuggling

Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, warned: “Those using drones to smuggle contraband into our prisons will feel the full force of the law.”

He revealed a spike in drone attempts, increasing eightfold in four years, and confirmed a £40 million investment in new security measures. This includes exterior netting and reinforced windows to block drone deliveries, alongside stronger police collaboration against organised crime behind such schemes.