France dismantles organized drone drug-smuggling network to a prison

French gendarmes announced on Tuesday the arrest of five individuals as part of the dismantling of a drug-smuggling network that used drones to deliver contraband to the Villefranche-sur-Saône prison in east-central France, after more than 1,800 deliveries were carried out in less than two months.

In 2025, approximately 5,000 drone flights or attempted flights over prisons were recorded in France, compared to more than 800 in 2024, according to the prison administration, as reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP) in January. The agency noted that the sharp increase was also linked to the expanded use of drone detection systems.

Among the five suspects in the Villefranche-sur-Saône case is a minor who will stand trial in September and has been placed in a closed educational center pending his trial, and four adults who will be tried in October. Three of the adults have been remanded in custody, according to a gendarmerie statement.

The gendarmerie stated that the network was “particularly well-organized,” operating from “two launch sites located in close proximity” to the prison.

Over a period of 51 days, investigators documented 1,826 deliveries. During the investigation, they seized 500 grams of cannabis, 6,000 euros in cash, a vehicle, the drone used for the deliveries, and 18 batteries.

A union source told AFP, “We are not surprised,” noting that prison staff lack adequate resources to combat this type of smuggling.

Deliveries are carried out at night using drones without lights that could reveal their location.

The source explained, “We hear the sound of the drone, but we do not know where it is or which cell receives the package.” He added that staff are “very concerned” that drones might be used in the future to smuggle weapons, for example.

In January, a 26-year-old former inmate was sentenced to six years in prison for running a sophisticated network that used drones to deliver packages to prisoners in northern France.