Drones are becoming more and more popular, and the Georgia Department of Corrections is looking to make sure they don’t become a popular way to get contraband inside Georgia’s prisons.

The State of Georgia operates 33 prisons statewide and incarcerates approximately 52,000 offenders.  Contraband has long been a problem in prisons, and there are numerous reports of people attempting to smuggle contraband into the prison system.

Just last month an employee that worked for a contractor at Hays State Prison in Chattooga County was arrested on contraband charges.  41 old Luis Vega Diego was fired for allegedly smuggling contraband into the facility, with the warrant for his arrest being filed December 5th.  According to reports, that incident actually occurred sometime last year between June and October.

Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Gregory Dozier said that he doesn’t want drone delivery to become one of the ways that prisoners get things they’re not supposed to have. Dozier is asking state lawmakers to support a bill that stipulates that it is illegal for a drone to cross into prison’s airspace. 

Drone sightings over prisons are being reported by corrections officials, with some reports of officers finding phones, marijuana and tobacco products.  Dozier believes the legislation will give a way to prosecute those who may be using drones to try and smuggle contraband into Georgia’s prisons.

(AM1180 Chattooga County Radio)