Key facts
- Over 20 state attorneys general are requesting expanded authority to combat drones delivering contraband into prisons.
- Drones are being used to smuggle drugs, weapons, cellphones, and other illicit items into correctional facilities.
- Federal control over airspace limits state and local officials' ability to intervene in real-time.
- The UK is investing £35 million to install steel grilles on 13,000 prison cell windows to prevent drone smuggling.
- Georgia reported nearly 1,200 cellphones seized from drone incidents in 2025.
A coalition of more than 20 state attorneys general is urging the Trump administration to grant states greater authority to detect, monitor, and mitigate unauthorized drones, particularly those used to smuggle contraband into prisons. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr highlighted that drones are being used to drop drugs, cellphones, weapons, and other illicit items behind prison walls, causing significant problems.
Current federal control over U.S. airspace limits state and local officials' ability to respond effectively to such activities, creating legal uncertainty and hindering real-time intervention. While Congress has begun to address this through provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act, many state officials argue these measures do not go far enough.
Carr noted that Georgia's Department of Corrections averages around 58 drone incidents per month, with nearly 1,200 cellphones seized from drone-related incidents in 2025 alone. The attorneys general argue that correctional officials need better tools to prevent contraband delivery before it leads to violence or other serious consequences.
In parallel, the UK government is investing £35 million to bolster prison security against drones. This initiative includes fitting heavy-duty steel grilles to up to 13,000 cell windows in 17 high-risk prisons across England and Wales to block contraband deliveries. Notably, many of these grilles will be manufactured by prisoners, aiming to reduce costs and provide vocational skills.