By Euro Weekly News Media • Published: 23 May 2019 • 17:30
THE Guardia Civil are concerned that a drone could be used in a prison escape.
The Ministry of the Interior ordered an inquiry after an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) dropped drugs and a mobile phone into Alhaurin de la Torre (Malaga) prison last September.
Some drones can carry up to 100 kilos and sources revealed that the authorities believe a prisoner could be airlifted to freedom this way,
Air traffic regulations ban drones from entering protected airspace, including prisons, and Alhaurin staff told investigators that a drone flew over the complex the previous day but they did not recall seeing it drop a package.
That day Guardia Civil officers found a crashed drone in an avocado plantation adjoining the prison although the Ministry stressed that there was no evidence linking the drone to the drugs or mobile.
The Alhaurin de la Torre incident was not isolated. Prison staff reported in January 2017 that a drone had flown over Teixiero (La Coruña) prison without incident.
Another drone was spotted in January when a drone flew over La Moraleja prison in Dueñas (Palencia) while prisoners were out in the patios. An immediate search confirmed that nothing was dropped but although the Guardia Civil combed the area outside the prison, they failed to locate the drone’s pilot.
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