Prison drone smuggler given close to seven-year term
A man has been jailed for flying drones containing drugs, tobacco and phones into prisons in London and across the south-east.
Mahamood Diallo Blin, 26, of Charlton Church Lane, Greenwich, was sentenced to six years and 11 months’ imprisonment on Monday at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Blin previously pleaded guilty at the same court to conspiracy to convey class-A drugs, conspiracy to convey mobile phones as well as conspiracy to convey tobacco.
A Met Police investigation was launched in August 2023 after prison staff discovered a drone that had crashed inside HMP Pentonville containing drugs and mobile phones. Detectives linked the drone to a previous incident where it had crashed into HMP Coldingley in Surrey a year prior.
A joint investigation began involving the Met Police and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit which identified 37 incidents of drugs, tobacco and mobile phones being flown into prison in the local area.
Blin was later charged in connection with these crimes and other offences on March 5 last year.
Detective Inspector Zara Baker , the senior investigating officer from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command said: “The Met is focused on tackling drug dealing as we know it fuels other crime and anti-social behaviour across London.
“Smuggling illegal drugs into prison increases the risk of violence towards those working within prisons and to other inmates. It adds to the struggles faced by those affected by addiction and attempting to rehabilitate while serving their sentences.
“Blin’s sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences he committed and I hope his sentence sends a clear message that offenders will be brought to justice.”
A spokesman from the South East Prison Intelligence Unit in SEROCU, said: “Tackling the issue of conveyance of drugs and other illicit items into prisons using drones is one of our priorities.
“By working closely with both the Metropolitan Police Service and HM Prison & Probation Service, we have been able to ensure that someone who was prolifically using drones to fly prohibited items into the prison estate with complete disregard for the harm this caused, has been stopped in his tracks.
“We will continue to work together to disrupt this activity which fuels organised crime.”
If you have any information about criminality involving drugs, please call your local police force on 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Pictured top: Mahamood Diallo Blin (Picture: The Met)