Drone Used to Smuggle Contraband into Kapurthala Central Jail in First-of-Its-Kind Incident
In a groundbreaking and unprecedented event, authorities at Central Jail Kapurthala reported the alleged use of a drone to drop contraband items, including tobacco products and five lighters, within the prison complex. This shocking incident took place during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, marking a significant escalation in smuggling tactics targeting correctional facilities.
Night Patrol Leads to Drone Sighting
According to an FIR lodged by Deputy Jail Superintendent Dheeraj Kumar, the discovery began when he was conducting a routine patrol of the jail premises around 11:30 PM. During his inspection, Kumar spotted a drone hovering ominously over the prison complex. He immediately alerted other jail staff members, and together they launched a frantic search to locate the unmanned aerial vehicle. Despite their concerted efforts, the drone could not be traced during the night, leaving authorities on high alert.
Morning Search Uncovers Smuggled Items
On Thursday morning, the jail staff resumed their search with renewed determination. Around 8 AM, they made a critical discovery near Tower Number 9 in the area of Barrack Number 3. The team recovered a wrapped packet that had been securely tied to the drone. Upon examination, the packet was found to contain a variety of contraband items: two packets of tobacco, two packets of cigarettes, a packet of filter cigarettes, a pack of rolling paper, and five lighters. This recovery highlighted the sophisticated nature of the smuggling attempt.
Investigation Underway with Police Insights
When contacted for comment, Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Toora provided crucial details about the incident. He clarified that the drone did not possess a mechanism to release the packet mid-air; instead, the items had been physically tied to it. SSP Toora emphasized that the matter is currently under active investigation, with authorities working to identify the perpetrators and understand the full scope of this illicit operation. This incident raises serious concerns about security vulnerabilities in prison systems and the evolving methods used by smugglers.
