Guards Intercept Drone with Contraband at SC Prison

A drone attempting to deliver a package of steak, crab legs, marijuana, and cigarettes to inmates at a South Carolina prison was intercepted by guards early Sunday morning, authorities said. The incident occurred at the Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville, where the unmanned aircraft dropped the contraband into the prison yard before being seized along with the bundle.

The South Carolina Department of Corrections announced the interception on the social platform X, using the hashtag ContrabandChristmas to describe the unusual haul. Photos released by the agency showed a raw steak still in its grocery store packaging, plastic-wrapped crab legs, a container of Old Bay seasoning, two cartons of Marlboro cigarettes, two large bags of marijuana, and a vacuum-sealed bag of loose tobacco. Officials described the contents as materials for an impromptu holiday meal, though the exact intended recipients among the prison's population remain unclear.

Prison staff spotted the drone during routine patrols and recovered both the device and the package before it could reach inmates, according to department statements. No injuries or further disruptions were reported, and an...