Drone Delivers McDonald’s to Cell Window at Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines Prison
An inmate at the Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines facility in Quebec used a drone to have a McDonald’s meal and alcohol delivered directly to a cell window, raising urgent security concerns from the correctional officers’ union. The delivery arrived at approximately 3 a.m. on a Thursday at the special handling unit.
“The inmate found that really funny in the morning when the guards did their rounds,” Mike Bolduc, regional president of the UCCO-SACC-CSN union, said in an interview. The union has been growing increasingly concerned about contraband, from cellphones to knives, getting into the maximum security facility via drone.
The targeted unit houses high-risk offenders, including convicted terrorists and notorious killers. Bolduc stated that the facility’s existing detection technology failed to intercept the drone before it reached the window of the cell.
Union Urges Installation of Physical Netting After Radar Defeat
Correctional Service Canada deploys unmanned aerial vehicle detection technology at its institutions, but Bolduc expressed concern that the equipment did not flag the aircraft. He suggested that inmates probably get multiple drones sent out to find blind spots.
“So what happened here is that they beat the technology,” Bolduc said. “The drones are incredible [with] the damage that they’re causing.”
While the federal agency maintains a multi-layered security approach involving intelligence activities, staff vigilance, searches, and detection tools, the union advocates for a simpler physical defense. Bolduc called for the immediate installation of protective netting.
Political Reaction and Federal Budget Cuts
Conservative MP Frank Caputo, the party’s public safety critic, questioned the government’s response to drone deliveries in a social media video.
Bolduc asserted that the delivery should serve as a “wake-up call” for federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, pointing to a $132 million reduction in the operational budget of Correctional Service Canada.
“I’m scared for Canadians, for their security,” Bolduc said.
Correctional Service Canada confirmed that the incident is under active review but declined to provide further details due to security considerations. Kevin Antonucci, a spokesperson for the agency, reiterated that preventing unauthorized items from entering institutions remains a priority addressed through ongoing searches, intelligence, and law enforcement partnerships. The office of Minister Anandasangaree directed inquiries back to the correctional agency’s public statement.
Frequently Asked Questions About Prison Drone Contraband
What specific items were delivered by the drone?
The drone delivered McDonald’s chicken nuggets and fries complete with sauce, along with some alcohol.
Which facility was targeted by the drone delivery?
The delivery reached the special handling unit at the Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines penitentiary in Quebec, a facility that houses extremely violent and high-risk offenders.
What technologies does Correctional Service Canada use to combat drones?
The agency deploys unmanned aerial vehicle detection technology alongside staff vigilance, security intelligence activities, searches, and collaboration with police and other partners.