Georgia authorities have detained 150 individuals in a widespread investigation into drones smuggling drugs and firearms into prisons

Georgia officials arrested more than 150 people on Thursday in connection to a large-scale investigation into the use of drones to bring contraband into prisons.

The arrest warrants, which included those of eight Georgia Department of Corrections officials, were served at two facilities in the Atlanta area. Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) said the operation dismantled a “sophisticated multi-state criminal enterprise.” 

“Georgia will not tolerate those who put our communities at risk by trafficking drugs, weapons, and contraband both in and out of our correctional facilities,” Kemp said in a statement. 

Those who allegedly participated in the enterprise included prison employees, civilians, and inmates. The items that were snuck into prisons included drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, cellphones, and guns, according to the governor’s office. The confiscated items have a total street value of at least $7 million dollars. 

More than 1,000 charges have been brought in the monthslong operation, dubbed Operation Skyhawk, and charges range from contraband introduction, drug trafficking, possession of firearms by convicted felons, violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and participating in criminal gang activity. 

“The success of ‘Operation Skyhawk’ should be a reminder to anyone, inside or outside our prisons, that we have zero tolerance and will take swift action against those who threaten the safe operations of our facilities and the safety of the public,” Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver said. “Our reach is far and wide, not just within the walls of our facilities, and I stand by my words from over a year ago that this activity will not be tolerated.”

Officials warned that other states could have similar operations within their facilities.

Georgia has one of the largest prison systems in the country, overseeing about 47,000 prisoners, while only having a staff of 2,685 in the Georgia Department of Corrections in 2023. That year, the department also had a vacancy rate of 55% for correctional officers, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

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Friends, relatives, and gang associates of inmates are the most common sources of contraband, according to the state. But sometimes prison guards and other employees will sneak in contraband, or allow other people to do so. In fact, there were more than 425 cases against prison employees for crimes on the job between 2018 and 2023, according to the outlet. 

The majority of the crimes were related to contraband, but some were charged with sexual assault, brutality, or extortion.