BOP director warns of rising contraband, cites drone drops and calls for more counter‑drone funding
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Summary
The director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons warned that drugs, cell phones and weapons continue to enter federal prisons, cited deployment of naloxone more than 500 times and 228 attempted drone drops, and said a roughly $900,000 allocation for the counter‑drone program is insufficient.
The director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons warned Thursday that attempts to introduce contraband — including fentanyl, methamphetamine, Suboxone strips, cell phones and weapons — into federal prisons are increasing and called for more resources to counter evolving delivery methods.
"Illegal drugs are still finding their way inside, and our staff are responding quickly and professionally to prevent tragedies," the director said, noting that staff have deployed naloxone (Narcan) in more than 500 incidents to reverse apparent overdoses.
The director said that vigilance has led to large-volume interceptions: staff have recovered nearly 17,000 cell phones, seized more than 4,300 weapons and recorded 668 instances of methamphetamine seizures totaling more than 20 kilograms — roughly 50 pounds. The bureau also reported 228 attempted drone drops and said staff conducted 260 internal investigations and stopped 231 visitors from introducing contraband before it reached inmates.
The director described several recent incidents to illustrate the problem. At one facility, an officer was reported to be planning to provide marijuana and "40 milligrams of THC gummies" to an inmate and was found with concealed tobacco under a stab‑resistant vest. At FCI Fort Dix, staff intercepted a drone drop that carried a 46‑pound laundry bag filled with contraband. At FCC Hazleton, staff said they found more than five ounces of THC wax, about 300 Suboxone strips and 14 cell phones in shipment bins. At FCC Beaumont, recreation staff observed two people outside the secure perimeter throwing packages onto a recreation yard; mobile patrol recovered 26 packages containing cell phones, vapes, tobacco, chargers and tattoo equipment after pursuing the suspects toward a wooded area.
Stopping contraband at that scale, the director said, requires "staffing, technology, training, and sustained support." The director recounted that the bureau received a dedicated allocation for a counter‑drone program in 2021 but that subsequent funding shifts left the program below the level originally intended. "This year, approximately $900,000 has been allocated to the counter drone program," the director said, adding that the amount "allows us to maintain minimum operational coverage and begin strengthening the program, but it is not enough to fully restore the capabilities this mission requires."
On enforcement, the director acknowledged support from President Donald J. Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch and said the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney's Offices nationwide are prosecuting anyone — whether a visitor, staff member or an inmate — who attempts to introduce contraband into the bureau's facilities.
The director closed by thanking bureau staff for their vigilance and professionalism and said the bureau would continue to advocate for the resources needed to reduce contraband and protect staff, those in custody and the public.
The director said further advocacy for resources and strengthened counter‑drone capabilities will be a priority; no formal policy vote or statutory change was announced during the remarks.
