Correctional Officers Stops $324K Drone Contraband Drop at Prison

State of VA - On Monday, August 24, 2026 at approximately 1:30 a.m., corrections team members at Sussex I State Prison discovered a suspicious package on the grounds.

The Virginia Department of Corrections says the package was part of an attempted drone delivery of contraband.

The Office of Law Enforcement Services is now investigating the incident. Officials estimate the contraband inside the package carries a prison value of about $324,000.

Staff who searched the package found a one pound bag of suspected methamphetamine.

They also found a bag holding 20 pages of paper that appeared to be soaked in an unknown liquid.

The package also contained tools that could help contraband move through the prison undetected. This included several hex wrenches of different sizes and two small bottles of glue.

A large number of cellphones were also found inside. Staff recovered 17 cellphones with charging cables, three USB Wi-Fi adapters, and two SIM cards.

Other items included 30 disposable lighters, two cartons of cigarettes, and one pound of loose leaf tobacco. Three packs of cigars were also part of the seizure.

The package rounded out with two bottles of professional grade tattoo ink and two bottles of perfume.

VADOC Director Joseph W. Walters spoke about the incident and thanked staff for catching it before it reached anyone inside. "This investigation is an important reminder that some people will use sophisticated methods in an attempt to smuggle drugs and other dangerous contraband into Virginia Department of Corrections facilities," Walters said. "I thank our institutional staff at Sussex I State Prison for their vigilance and focus on ensuring the safety and security of our facility. Our dedicated correctional staff and OLES members stand ready to intercept any dangerous contraband that individuals may attempt to introduce into correctional settings to ensure the safety and security of our dedicated corrections team members, of incarcerated individuals in our custody, of probationers, and of people in communities all across the Commonwealth of Virginia."

The Office of Law Enforcement Services continues to investigate this incident. No further information is being released at this time.

Anyone with information about attempted smuggling into a VADOC facility is asked to call OLES at 540-830-9280.