France dismantles drone drug smuggling ring at Villefranche-sur-Saône prison

French authorities have dismantled a highly organized criminal network responsible for delivering 1,826 illicit packages to the Villefranche-sur-Saône prison via drones in just 51 days. The operation, which averaged approximately 36 deliveries per day, resulted in the arrest of five individuals, including four adults and one minor.

Investigators discovered the group utilized two launch zones located near the prison and reportedly used Airbnb rentals to prepare orders. The deliveries were primarily conducted at night using drones without lights to evade detection. During searches, police seized 500 grams of cannabis, 6,000 euros in cash, a vehicle, and a drone equipped with 18 batteries. Authorities estimate that roughly 30 kilograms of cannabis resin were introduced into the facility during this period.

This incident highlights a significant rise in drone-related prison smuggling in France. Correctional authorities noted that drone flights or attempted flights in French prisons rose from over 800 in 2024 to more than 5,000 recorded in early 2025. Prison staff expressed ongoing concerns regarding their limited resources to counter these nocturnal deliveries and the potential future use of drones for transporting weapons.