Irish prisons faced over 500 drone drops of contraband since July 2024, prompting major security upgrades and joint law enforcement actions.

Since July 2024, Irish prisons have experienced 505 drone-led contraband drops, averaging over one incident per day, with drugs, weapons, and phones recovered. Wheatfield Prison was hit most, followed by Mountjoy and Cloverhill. The Irish Prison Service spent €5 million on reinforced netting, including fire-resistant versions, after criminals began using burning packages to breach barriers. Collaborative efforts with An Garda Síochána have led to multiple arrests and prosecutions, with intelligence-led operations improving detection. Specific security details remain undisclosed for safety reasons.