Three years in jail for drone-flying drug dealer
A drug dealer who attempted to fly a drone loaded with cannabis and mobile phones into a London prison has been jailed for three years.
Charlie Adifiyi, 21, of Islington, north London, was tracked down after traces of his DNA were found on a drone downed outside HMP Pentonville on August 14 last year.
It was captured flying towards the prison on CCTV and was intercepted by officers from Operation Airborne - a unit devoted to tackling the number of drones entering Pentonville.
It was found to be carrying 118 grams of cannabis, two mobile phones and 71.7 grams of a psychoactive substance wrapped in a black plastic bag.
Adifiyi initially escaped the scene, but was traced to his home address following a DNA analysis of the drone.
A search of his home at James Morgan Mews revealed a further 476 grams of psychoactive substance, which has a prison value of up to £38,000, the Metropolitan Police said.
Adifiyi later pleaded guilty to three counts of conveying a prohibited article into prison under Section 40 of the Prisons Act and one count of possession of psychoactive substances with intent to supply.
He was jailed for three years at Blackfriars Crown Court on Monday.
Inspector Steve Murfin, from Neighbourhoods Policing in Islington, said in a statement: "This drone was found to be carrying a substantial amount of cannabis and phones and due to the vigilance of officers it was prevented from entering the prison.
"We work closely with the prison service to gather intelligence in order to carry out proactive operations to arrest and prosecute those who commit this crime."
Prisons Minister Sam Gyimah, said: "I am determined to stem the flow of drugs into our prisons, and I want to pay tribute to the staff at HMP Pentonville and the police for preventing this haul from entering the prison system and undermining the stability and order at the jail.
"This conviction should send a strong message to others who may attempt to do the same; we will find you and put you behind bars."
