Drones are Fueling a Dangerous Prison Economy

At last week’s C-UAS Homeland Security Expo in Washington, D.C., we joined top officials from the FBI, Department of Justice (DOJ), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to tackle some of the most pressing national security threats – including the escalating drone crisis in prisons. Experts delivered a clear and urgent message: this is a crisis, and solutions are needed, now.

Drones are the New Smugglers – We Need Equipment to Identity the Drone Pilot

Smuggling contraband via drones has become as easy as ordering takeout. “Drones and prisons are like Uber Eats – you just place an order,” said Robert L. Green, Executive Director of the American Correctional Association.

Some drones can carry up to 30 pounds of illicit materials, with each drop generating $6,000 to $10,000 fueling a thriving black market inside prison walls. Even more alarming, authorities have intercepted drones capable of carrying human passengers. This is not a minor nuisance it is an unprecedented security threat that is only growing.
Yet, despite knowing the scale of the problem, prison officials are still blind to the real perpetrators – the drone pilots themselves. Without the right technology, we are fighting a battle without knowing our enemy.

Prison Staff are Currently Helpless Against the Drone Invasion

Prison staff are defenseless against the swarm of drones invading correctional facilities. “Right now, all we can do is look up and say, ‘Here we go again,’” said Steven A. Willoughby, Deputy Director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Counter-UAS Program.

Current security measures? Ineffective.
Tracking systems? Inadequate.
Countermeasures? Practically nonexistent.

The only way forward is to equip prison security with fast, effective C-UAS solutions that can detect, track, and neutralize drone threats in real time – before they ever reach their targets.

The #1 Priority: Grant Mitigation Authority

One of the biggest takeaways from the expo? Mitigation authority must be granted, immediately. “We needed it yesterday,” stressed Robert L. Green.

Right now, prisons, law enforcement, and security agencies are powerless to stop these threats. Without proper legislation, their hands are tied. Every day of delay allows criminals to adapt, improve their tactics, and expand their operations. We cannot afford to wait.

With Equipment From MyDefence We Can Stop the Threat Before it Strikes

At the event, our Director of U.S. Operations, Tony Dedmond demonstrated how MyDefence’s real-time detection and mitigation technology works in action. Using our advanced equipment, he demonstrated how prisons can proactively detect, track, and neutralize aerial threats before they escalate. Our systems deliver instant alerts and automatic countermeasures, ensuring security teams stay ahead of the threat, before it even reaches prison airspace.

“Our perimeter installations offer 24/7 airspace security, detecting, tracking, and automatically jamming unauthorized drones at extended ranges – often intercepting threats before they even take off,” said Nicolai Søndergaard Laugesen, CRO, MyDefence. “With equipment from MyDefence, we can stop the threat before it enters the prison zone. The reality is clear: criminals are getting more sophisticated, but so are we.”

Designed for rapid deployment, scalability, and real-world effectiveness, MyDefence technology provides a critical line of defense for individual facilities and nationwide prison networks alike, ensuring airspace security is no longer left to chance.

The Drone Crisis is Here – Where are Our Safetyguard?

With the drone crisis spiraling out of control, the time for action is NOW.

Law enforcement, correctional facilities, and security experts at the expo all agreed: we must act swiftly to protect our prisons, personnel, borders, and public spaces.

The technology exists. The solutions are available. The risk is undeniable.

So, what are we waiting for?