Drones seized over HMP Pentonville carrying drugs and phones

Drones carrying large amounts of drugs and mobile phones have been intercepted by police as they were being flown near a north London jail.

One device crashed after it was tracked flying over HMP Pentonville on 14 August, while another drone was seized mid-flight later the same day.

On 13 August, a man was spotted by officers acting suspiciously near the prison. He fled but dropped two bags of Class B drugs and phones.

No arrests have been made.

Det Ch Insp Steve Heatley said the drones “carried a substantial amount of Class B drugs, legal highs and a large quantity of mobile phones”.

“We are able to intercept them thanks to the vigilance of officers and the public,” he said.

The devices were recovered as part of Operation Airborne, which involved officers investigating attempts to smuggle contraband into the all-male prison over the weekend of 12-14 August. (BBC News)