Five arrested in France for over 1,800 drone drug deliveries to prison

French gendarmes have apprehended five people accused of a prolific drone-based drug smuggling operation targeting a prison near Lyon. The group allegedly made over 1,800 deliveries to the Villefranche sur Saône facility in less than two months, highlighting a growing trend in criminal activity within the country's correctional system.

This incident underscores a dramatic rise in drone incursions over French prisons. An official from the prison administration reported over 5,000 detected drone flights or attempts in 2025, a stark contrast to the 800 recorded the previous year. This surge has led to increased deployment of drone detection equipment in correctional facilities nationwide.

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the staff have hardly any resources to deal with this type of trafficking.

The arrested individuals are believed to be part of a highly organized network operating from two launch sites near the prison. Investigators documented 1,826 deliveries within a 51-day period. During their investigation, authorities confiscated approximately 500 grams of cannabis, 6,000 euros in cash, and the drone used for the illicit shipments. Prison staff reportedly lack adequate resources to combat this nocturnal traffic, which often involves unmarked drones flying without lights, making them difficult to track.

Among those detained were four adults, three of whom have been placed in pre-trial detention. A minor was also arrested and will face trial in September, with interim placement in an educational facility. The sophistication and scale of this operation present a significant challenge for authorities seeking to curb contraband smuggling into prisons.

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you hear the drone, but you don't know where it is.