Italian prisons hit by drone smuggling, overcrowding, unpaid overtime

The autonomous prison police union SAPPE reports a wave of drone‑smuggling incidents in Italian penitentiaries. In Bari two drones were shot down, one carrying almost 700 g of cocaine, five SIM cards, a phone and charging cables, and another with additional drug material. A similar operation in Naples’ Secondigliano prison seized nearly one kilogram of hashish. SAPPE emphasises that “the battle against crime can be won” thanks to the anti‑drone rifles now deployed.

At the same time, prison overcrowding has reached critical levels across the south. In Puglia the inmate population exceeds official capacity by 170 % on average, with the Foggia facility at about 220 % occupancy. In Castrogno, Teramo, the prison is operating at 178 % of its design capacity, and staff have worked unpaid overtime since January, accumulating hundreds of hours. Union leaders describe the situation as “the State demands security but does not pay those who guarantee it.”

SAPPE has taken the issue to the national stage, filing complaints with the Court of Auditors, urging the Ministry of Justice to accelerate anti‑drone equipment, and prompting a parliamentary interrogation by deputy Giulio Cesare Sottanelli. The union calls for immediate payment of overtime, reinforcement of prison staff, and structural reforms to curb both smuggling and the dangerous conditions created by chronic overcrowding.