Officers have reported other items being smuggled into Greater Manchester’s jails, including tobacco, shampoo, shower gel, and even sachets of mustard and tomato ketchup.
Det Supt Buckthorpe said the goods are often suspended on lines attached to the drones and are dangled close to cell windows.
“These drone pilots have got a really high skill set. The way you fly drones now, you can pin point them to certain area via coordinates and other methods,” he said.
He said the drones used were capable of delivering “huge payloads” of up to 7kg (15lb).
“The technology is improving all the time, it’s getting more sophisticated”, he said, adding it was also becoming more accessible as drones became cheaper.
The region’s other three prisons include the city centre jail HMP Manchester, referred to as Strangeways, HMP Hindley in Wigan, and HMP Buckley Hall in Rochdale.
Phones in the prisons were a “huge threat” as some criminals continue to orchestrate activities from the inside, Det Supt Buckthorpe said.
