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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/aug/22/pentonville-prison-police-seize-drones-carrying-drugs-mobiles-islington-north-london
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| Police seize drones carrying mobiles and drugs to Pentonville jail | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police have seized two drones loaded with drugs and mobile phones being flown towards a prison in north London. | Police have seized two drones loaded with drugs and mobile phones being flown towards a prison in north London. |
| The devices were discovered by officers investigating attempts to smuggle contraband into the Pentonville jail in Islington. | The devices were discovered by officers investigating attempts to smuggle contraband into the Pentonville jail in Islington. |
| Over the weekend of 12-14 August, officers from the Caledonian safer neighbourhoods team and the Metropolitan police special constabulary carried out patrols around the male prison as part of Operation Airborne. | Over the weekend of 12-14 August, officers from the Caledonian safer neighbourhoods team and the Metropolitan police special constabulary carried out patrols around the male prison as part of Operation Airborne. |
| In the early hours of 13 August, they saw a man near the jail acting suspiciously. On noticing the officers, he fled the scene, dropping two bags containing Class B drugs and mobile phones. The man evaded arrest. | In the early hours of 13 August, they saw a man near the jail acting suspiciously. On noticing the officers, he fled the scene, dropping two bags containing Class B drugs and mobile phones. The man evaded arrest. |
| The following day, police recovered a drone they had tracked flying over Pentonville prison before it crashed. They were later alerted to another drone being flown towards the jail. It was stopped mid-flight and found to be carrying a package containing a large quantity of drugs and two mobile phones. | The following day, police recovered a drone they had tracked flying over Pentonville prison before it crashed. They were later alerted to another drone being flown towards the jail. It was stopped mid-flight and found to be carrying a package containing a large quantity of drugs and two mobile phones. |
| DCI Steve Heatley said: “These recovered drones carried a substantial amount of Class B drugs, legal highs [novel psychoactive substances] and a large quantity of mobile phones. We are able to intercept them thanks to the vigilance of officers and the public. | DCI Steve Heatley said: “These recovered drones carried a substantial amount of Class B drugs, legal highs [novel psychoactive substances] and a large quantity of mobile phones. We are able to intercept them thanks to the vigilance of officers and the public. |
| “We work closely with the Prison Service to gather intelligence in order to carry out proactive operations to arrest and prosecute such offenders. | “We work closely with the Prison Service to gather intelligence in order to carry out proactive operations to arrest and prosecute such offenders. |
| “I would urge anyone with information about these events to contact the police [on 101] or Crimestoppers [anonymously on 0800 555 111] to help us to identify those responsible.” | “I would urge anyone with information about these events to contact the police [on 101] or Crimestoppers [anonymously on 0800 555 111] to help us to identify those responsible.” |