Inmate That Collected The Contraband Placed In Solitary Confinement

They didn't count on the wires.

The wires that are strung over Wheatfield Prison in Ireland to prevent the landing of a full-sized helicopter that might be used in an escape attempt thwarted an attempt to smuggle drugs into the facility using a quadcopter. And it might have worked except the UAV hit one of the wires and went down in the prison yard.

The U.K. newspaper The Independent reports the aircraft ... a fairly expensive model costing over 2,000 euros ... made the delivery attempt at about 11 in the morning Wednesday. It was carrying a package attached by a rope to the aircraft. It hovered over the yard as about 20 inmates tried to recover the contraband.

But they didn't count on the wires, and the aircraft hit one and went down. One inmate was surrounded by others as he "pushed them (the suspected drugs) inside himself." That inmate, thought to be the ringleader, has been placed in solitary confinement until they pass through his system.

The botched delivery meant that authorities got their hands on the aircraft, as well as its camera and GPS chips. It shows the entire route of flight, as well as a practice run. A prison spokeswoman said the incident is "under investigation."

(Quadcopter image from file. Not UAV used)

FMI: www.irishprisons.ie/index.php/joomlaorg/west-dublin-prison-campus/wheatfield-place-of-detention