Pentonville prison in north London where a drone attempted to drop banned items
PA Archive
John Dunne @jhdunne7 March 2024
Police have charged a man with using drones to smuggle drugs and other contraband into prisons.
An investigation was launched in August 2023 when prison staff found a drone that had crashed inside HMP Pentonville.
It was found with cannabis, the drug Spice and mobile phones.
Detectives linked this drone with another that had crashed in HMP Coldingley, Surrey in July 2023.
Drugs and a phone were also seized from that drone.
Diallo Blin, 25, of Bastion Road, Plumstead, was charged on Tuesday with two conspiracy to supply drugs and conspiracy to supply contraband into prisons.
He appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 6 March and was remanded in custody to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 3 April.
