Pair accused of using drones for jail drug drops

Suspected dealers face charge they failed to get permission to fly unmanned surveillance aircraft into grounds of Perth Prison

A pair of suspected drug dealers have been accused of breaking civil aviation laws by flying drones into a maximum security prison.

Michael Martin and Paul Reilly are alleged to have delivered drugs and mobile phones into Perth Prison using the remote control drone device.

The “phones on drones” duo are alleged to have delivered a total of seven mobile devices into the jail in the space of four days.

Among the charges they face is that they failed to get permission from the Civil Aviation Authority for the drone “flights” they organised last September.

Martin, 34, now described as a prisoner at Perth, and Reilly, 32, Oak Road, Cumbernauld, face a total of eight charges on indictment at Perth Sheriff Court.

They are alleged to have been concerned in the supply of cannabis and cannabis resin at the prison on September 22 2017.

They are also alleged to have supplied buprenorphine and etizolam at the jail on the same date. The indictment alleges that, on September 22, they introduced five mobile phones into the prison “without reasonable excuse” by flying a drone into the grounds.

Both are alleged to have “been in charge of a small unmanned surveillance aircraft, flying it otherwise than in accordance with the permission required by the Civil Aviation Authority” by flying the drone into the prison grounds.

Martin and Reilly are further alleged to have repeated the same offence at the prison by flying the drone into the grounds on September 25. It is alleged they flew the drone in carrying two mobile phones on that date.

Both men deny the charges against them but Reilly failed to turn up for the latest procedural hearing in the case and a warrant was granted for his arrest.

Martin was represented in court by solicitor David Bell, who lodged a special defence of alibi on his behalf, and confirmed he had been remanded in connection with the offences.

Sheriff William Wood fixed a trial for the end of May.

Two men are alleged to have delivered drugs and mobile phones to Perth Prison by flying remote-controlled drones into the grounds