Police charge man over attempted $1 million prison drone drug delivery

A 47-year-old man has been charged over allegedly using a drone to deliver more than $1 million worth of drugs into a Townsville prison. Corrective services officers brought down the drone in May when it was spotted over the Townsville Correctional Centre. Officers found a package attached to the drone containing methylamphetamine and GBL, a large quantity of prescription drugs, syringes, a glass pipe, a mobile phone and a SIM card. A 47-year-old man has been charged with five counts of supplying dangerous drugs into a correctional facility. He has also been charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, dealing with a prohibited item in a corrective services facility, supplying a medication and drone-related offences. The man will face the Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Detective Acting Inspector Erica Gray of the Corrective Services Investigation Unit said the charges are a "disruption" to the supply of drugs into Queensland prisons. "Preventing drugs from entering correctional facilities is critical to the safety of staff, prisoners and the broader community," she said. A similar incident was reported at the prison in 2022 when officers found a drone that had crashed while carrying illicit drugs and tobacco. A man faced charges in 2023 over the incident.