Man Charged Over $1 Million of Drugs Flown into Townsville Prison by Drone
A 47-year-old man faces multiple drug-related charges after a drone carrying over $1 million worth of illegal substances was intercepted at Townsville Correctional Centre.
In May, corrective services officers intercepted a drone hovering over Townsville Correctional Centre, retrieving a parcel that contained methamphetamine, the drug GBL, a large stock of prescription medicines, syringes, a glass pipe, a mobile phone and a SIM card. Authorities identified a 47-year-old man as the alleged operator and have charged him with five counts of supplying dangerous drugs into a correctional facility, alongside offences for drug trafficking, handling prohibited items, supplying medication and illegal drone use.
The suspect will appear before the Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Detective Acting Inspector Erica Gray of the Corrective Services Investigation Unit described the charges as a "disruption" to the flow of contraband into Queensland prisons. She emphasized that preventing such deliveries is vital for the safety of prison staff, inmates and the broader community. This incident follows a similar drone-related drug drop at the same prison in 2022 and a related charge in 2023.
Why it matters
It highlights how technology is being used to smuggle drugs into prisons, prompting law-enforcement responses.
In this story
