PIRATE DRONE CARRYING DRUGS, WEAPONS CAPTURED AT TROUBLED NEW YORK STATE PRISON
KNIVES, MARIJUANA, SYNTHETIC DRUGS, PHONE, BANDANAS INTERCEPTED
A drone carrying drugs, weapons and a mobile phone captured by New York State Correction Officers at the Marcy Correctional Facility outside Utica, Mar. 14, 2026. Photo credit: unknown, via DOCCS.
MALONE, NEW YORK Mar. 18, 2026
Correction Officers guarding a troubled prison in upstate New York intercepted a drone delivering contraband Saturday night.
"At approximately 1 a.m. Saturday, March 14, staff at Marcy Correctional Facility detected a drone flying above the facility grounds that subsequently released a package between dormitory buildings inside the facility’s secure fence," the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said in a news release on Wednesday.
Officers recovered the package and the drone that delivered it, which they "also recovered outside the facility," DOCCS said.
When guards found the package, they saw wires sticking out of it. So they called the State Police Bomb Squad. When the Bomb Squad cleared the package, officers opened it up and discovered a potpourri of contraband. DOCCS said the items recovered included:
Two eight-inch, double-edged knives
Approximately 530 grams of a green leafy substance
Five full pieces of paper saturated in intoxicating chemicals
One cell phone
Two hair clippers with chargers and accessories
Four bandanas
No arrests have been made, DOCCS' news release said.
"The investigation into the incident remains ongoing," it added. "If those responsible are identified, they will face criminal prosecution."
DOCCS used its successful capture of the drone-delivered contraband to call attention to Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal to strengthen the State’s ability to address illegal drone activity. Gov. Hochul's proposal is part of the FY2027 budget negotiations.
The proposal would
Prohibiting the use of drones in a nefarious manner and restricting drone activity over sensitive locations, including correctional facilities.
Establishing new criminal offenses for unlawful drone activity.
Expanding the authority of trained law enforcement agencies to detect, intercept, and disable drones that pose a public safety threat, with any mitigation actions reported to the New York State Police.
Directing the State Police to establish a registry known as the New York State Blue List, identifying approved drones and drone mitigation technology that may be purchased by the State.
"The use of drones to deliver weapons, drugs, and cell phones is an evolving but imminent threat that our correctional system is facing as we continue to close off other means of introducing contraband into our facilities," DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello said. "I want to thank our staff at Marcy for their quick and decisive action this weekend to ensure the safety and security of our facility."
"DOCCS is working closely with our union partners to support Governor Hochul’s legislation, which would provide important tools to prevent unlawful drone activity and better protect those who live and work inside our facilities every day," the Commissioner added. "I strongly encourage the Legislature to approve this critical public safety proposal.”
“We fully support the Governor’s proposal to criminalize the use of drones within 500 feet of correctional facilities, and we urge the State Legislature to stand behind this critical initiative," Chris Summers, president of the union that represents New York's correction officers, NYSCOPBA, said in a statement.
Summers added: "I also want to commend the staff at Marcy Correctional Facility for their excellent work in detecting the drone and preventing dangerous contraband, including drugs, weapons, and a cell phone, from reaching the inmates.”
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