Man Arrested for Drone Contraband Drops at Florida, Washington Prisons

Authorities in Martin County, Florida, have arrested Kaheid Ash for repeatedly using a drone to deliver contraband, including cigarettes, cell phones, and live ammunition, to Martin Correctional Institution. Over an approximately two-week period, drone drops occurred about eight times, prompting prison officials to seek assistance from the Martin County Sheriff's Office. Detectives tracked a green-lighted drone to Ash's SUV, where they found a controller and evidence of contraband deliveries; the drone had its lights covered with black tape to avoid detection. Ash claimed he was merely practicing flying his drone, but investigators found inconsistencies and linked him to prior smuggling attempts. The Florida Department of Corrections condemned the drone activity as a serious threat to prison safety and surrounding communities, highlighting the limitations they face in combating such incursions, as discussed recently by FDC Secretary Ricky Dixon before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. This case underscores increasing concerns over drone use for criminal purposes in correctional facilities nationwide.