Two individuals from Georgia are now in custody following an alleged attempt to use a drone for smuggling contraband, such as drugs and cell phones, into a medium-security prison last week.
The incident took place on May 3 when officials at the Washington State Prison in Davisboro detected “suspicious vehicle activity” and thwarted the purported contraband delivery, according to a post by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office on social media.
During the investigation, deputies uncovered several bags containing roughly 2.95 pounds of marijuana, in addition to tobacco products, cell phones, clothing, and electronic chargers, authorities reported.
The sheriff’s office also discovered razor blades in a nearby field and found evidence at the scene that allegedly connected the suspects to the attempted drop.
Among the items seized were around 2.95 pounds of marijuana, tobacco products, cell phones, clothing, and electronic chargers, following the interception of the drone delivery at Washington State Prison in Davisboro, Georgia, on May 3, 2026.
Photographs released by the department showcase the substantial quantity of contraband confiscated, including numerous bags of marijuana, rolling papers, wireless headphones, and over two dozen lighters.
The investigation led authorities to identify the individuals allegedly inside the vehicle as 17-year-old Mariana Torres and 19-year-old Anyela Contreas Torres, the department said.
Both suspects were subsequently taken into custody without incident and charged with using an unmanned aircraft to accomplish violations, possession of drone during crime, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, items prohibited by inmates, trading with inmates (phones), trading with inmates (drugs), trading with inmates (tobacco), possession of weapon during commission of crime and possession of tools during commission of crime, according to authorities.
The Washington State Prison has experienced an increase in drone contraband drops since 2024, according to WGXA. (Google Maps)
In 2019, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp passed Senate Bill 6, which “prohibits the use of unmanned aircraft systems [drones] from delivering or attempting to deliver contraband to a place of incarceration.”
However, despite the legislation, the prison and local jail are reportedly continuing to grapple with an uptick in contraband smuggling operations involving drones.
“Over the past four years or so, we have been dealing with drone sightings and drone incidents when it comes to bringing contraband into facilities,” Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran told WGXA.
Advancements in drone technology, including the ability to carry large payloads and fly long distances, are contributing to an increase in contraband drops at jails and prisons across the U.S. (iStock)
In October, Cochran told the outlet his department had arrested 17 individuals for attempted drone drops since the start of 2025, with 75 of the 170 inmates at the Washington County Jail facing charges related to alleged prison deliveries.
“Right now, I’ve got 44 percent of my population in the county jail related to prison drop cases there at the Washington State Prison – 44 percent. For me, that seems like a lot, and it’s a burden on the taxpayers,” Cochran reportedly said.
Cochran reportedly pointed to improvements in technology — including the ability to carry large payloads using drones — as a primary cause of the increased amount of drops.
“They got more functions, and the technology is so much better than when they started out,” Cochran told WGXA. “It’s easier, I think, for them to use drones than maybe go back to the older way of having to get the contraband into these facilities.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Department of Corrections for comment.
