Georgia Teens Charged for Allegedly Using Drone to Smuggle Contraband into Prison

Two suspects from Georgia are now in custody, accused of using a drone to deliver contraband items such as drugs and cell phones to a medium-security prison. The incident took place last week and has since been under investigation.

It all started on May 3 when authorities at Washington State Prison in Davisboro detected unusual vehicle activity. This led them to intercept what appeared to be an attempted drop of forbidden items, according to a statement from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, shared through a social media update.

Upon further inspection, deputies uncovered several bags containing nearly 2.95 pounds of marijuana. Alongside the drugs, they found tobacco products, cell phones, clothing, and electronic chargers. This discovery pointed to a sophisticated plan to supply inmates with prohibited goods.

In addition to these items, the sheriff’s office reported finding razor blades hidden in a nearby field. Evidence collected at the scene allegedly ties the suspects to the contraband drop location, strengthening the case against them.

This discovery of approximately 2.95 pounds of marijuana, along with other contraband, highlights the ongoing challenges faced by prison authorities in preventing the smuggling of illegal items. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the incident, ensuring that security measures are reinforced to prevent future attempts.

Photos shared by the department show the large haul of contraband seized by authorities, including several bags of marijuana, rolling papers, wireless headphones and more than two dozen lighters. 

The investigation led authorities to identify the individuals allegedly inside the vehicle as 17-year-old Mariana Torres and 19-year-old Anyela Contreas Torres, the department said. 

Both suspects were subsequently taken into custody without incident and charged with using an unmanned aircraft to accomplish violations, possession of drone during crime, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, items prohibited by inmates, trading with inmates (phones), trading with inmates (drugs), trading with inmates (tobacco), possession of weapon during commission of crime and possession of tools during commission of crime, according to authorities.

The Washington State Prison has experienced an increase in drone contraband drops since 2024, according to WGXA. (Google Maps)

In 2019, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp passed Senate Bill 6, which “prohibits the use of unmanned aircraft systems [drones] from delivering or attempting to deliver contraband to a place of incarceration.” 

However, despite the legislation, the prison and local jail are reportedly continuing to grapple with an uptick in contraband smuggling operations involving drones. 

“Over the past four years or so, we have been dealing with drone sightings and drone incidents when it comes to bringing contraband into facilities,” Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran told WGXA.

Advancements in drone technology, including the ability to carry large payloads and fly long distances, are contributing to an increase in contraband drops at jails and prisons across the U.S. (iStock)

In October, Cochran told the outlet his department had arrested 17 individuals for attempted drone drops since the start of 2025, with 75 of the 170 inmates at the Washington County Jail facing charges related to alleged prison deliveries. 

“Right now, I’ve got 44 percent of my population in the county jail related to prison drop cases there at the Washington State Prison – 44 percent. For me, that seems like a lot, and it’s a burden on the taxpayers,” Cochran reportedly said. 

Cochran reportedly pointed to improvements in technology — including the ability to carry large payloads using drones — as a primary cause of the increased amount of drops.

“They got more functions, and the technology is so much better than when they started out,” Cochran told WGXA. “It’s easier, I think, for them to use drones than maybe go back to the older way of having to get the contraband into these facilities.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Department of Corrections for comment.