Ireland Case No. 0013Drug smuggling · Co. Laois · 6 Oct 2026
Man charged over drone drug smuggling at Portlaoise prison
A drone carrying suspected cannabis, tablets and mobile phones crashed into the roof of the Prison Officers Training College at Portlaoise Prison campus on 6 October 2026 in a suspected attempt to smuggle contraband into Midlands Prison. Two men, one in his 30s and one in his 40s, were arrested on the grounds of the nearby Midlands Regional Hospital and detained under the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. The man in his 30s has been charged and is due before Tullamore District Court on 7 October 2026, while the man in his 40s was released without charge with a file to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested6 Oct
3 reports - Charged7 Oct
2 reports - In court7 Oct
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A drone (reported as two drones in some accounts) carrying suspected cannabis, tablets and mobile phones crashed into the roof of the Prison Officers Training College at Portlaoise Prison campus in a suspected attempt to smuggle contraband into Midlands Prison.
- Where
- The incident occurred at the Portlaoise Prison campus, Co Laois, and the two men were arrested on the grounds of the nearby Midlands Regional Hospital.
- When
- The incident occurred after 3pm on Tuesday 6 October 2026.
- Investigation
- Gardaí from the Portlaoise Detective Unit and Drugs Unit responded to a report of drone activity and arrested two men, one in his 30s and one in his 40s.
- The two men were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Garda station in the Eastern Region.
- The suspected drugs and contraband are to be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for forensic examination.
- Charges
- The man in his 30s has been charged in connection with the investigation.
- In court
- The charged man is due to appear before Tullamore District Court at 10:30am on Wednesday 7 October 2026.
- Other details
- The man in his 40s was released without charge while a file is prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Gardaí suspect the drones were to be used to drop contraband into either Midlands Prison or Portlaoise Prison.
68 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA drone, suspected cannabis, tablets, and mobile phones were seized (garda.ie)
- whatTwo males in their 30s and 40s were arrested (garda.ie)
- whatA drone attempted to smuggle drugs and mobile phones into Midlands Prison. (rte.ie)
- whatThe drone and a package containing suspected cannabis, tablets and mobile phones were seized. (rte.ie)
- whatGardaí arrested two men aged in their 30s and 40s a short time later. (rte.ie)
- whatTwo men aged in their 30s and 40s were arrested. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatTwo drones were seized. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatPackages containing suspected cannabis, tablets and mobile phones were seized. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatGardaí suspect the drones were to be used to drop contraband into either the Midlands Prison or Portlaoise Prison. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatA drone attempting to smuggle contraband into Midlands Prison crashed into a nearby training college. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe drone was recovered by the Laois Fire and Rescue Service along with a package containing mobile phones and suspected cannabis and tablets. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA drone crashed onto the roof of the Irish Prison Service training college at Portlaoise Prison campus on Tuesday 6 October 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe drone is suspected of having been carrying contraband intended for the prison (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDrones, phones and suspected drugs were discovered near Portlaoise Prison. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatA drone was seized during the investigation in Portlaoise (garda.ie)
- whatSuspected drugs were seized during the investigation in Portlaoise (garda.ie)
- whatMobile phones were seized during the investigation in Portlaoise (garda.ie)
- whatA male in his 30s was arrested in connection with the investigation (garda.ie)
- whatA second male in his 40s was released without charge (garda.ie)
- whereThe arrested men are detained at a Garda Station in the Eastern Region (garda.ie)
- whereThe drone crashed into the roof of the nearby Prison Officers Training College. (rte.ie)
- whereThe drone was intercepted flying near the Portlaoise Prison Campus, Co Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe two men are being detained at Abbeyleix Garda Station. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe drone crashed into the roof of the training college near Midlands Prison in Portlaoise. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe two men were found in the grounds of the nearby Midland Regional Hospital. (irishtimes.com)
- whereTwo men were arrested on the grounds of the nearby Midlands Regional Hospital (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe seizure took place in Portlaoise, Co Laois (garda.ie)
- whenThe interception occurred on 6 October 2026 (garda.ie)
- whenThe incident happened after 3pm on 6 October 2026. (rte.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on Tuesday 6 October 2026. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on a Tuesday afternoon. (irishtimes.com)
- whenGardaí responded to a report of drone activity in the vicinity of Portlaoise Prison campus on Tuesday afternoon (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe arrests followed suspicious activity in Portlaoise on Tuesday afternoon. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe seizure occurred on 6 October 2026 (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí from the Laois Drugs Unit and Laois Detective Unit intercepted a drone near Portlaoise Prison Campus (garda.ie)
- investigationThe men are detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 (garda.ie)
- investigationThe suspected drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing (garda.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe two men are detained at a garda station in the eastern region under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe men can be questioned for up to 24 hours. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe drone and the contraband it was carrying are to be forensically examined. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe Irish Prison Service confirmed it is working with An Garda Síochána to recover the drone that crashed into the Irish Prison Service College, Portlaoise. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe two men were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe suspected drugs will be forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationMembers of the Portlaoise Detective Unit and Drugs Unit responded to the incident. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationAnother man in his 40s has been released without charge while a file is prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe two men were arrested by gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe contraband will undergo a forensic examination to confirm its contents. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí began a search of the area after officers at Midlands Prison were notified of drone activity. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe two men were detained at a Garda station in the Eastern Region (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation remains ongoing (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationTwo men were arrested by Detectives from Portlaoise Drug Unit and Detective Unit. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationA file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding the second male (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations into the matter are ongoing (garda.ie)
- chargeThe man in his 30s has been charged. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeThe male in his 30s has been charged (garda.ie)
- courtThe man in his 30s will appear before Tullamore District Court on Wednesday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA man in his 30s is due to appear before Tullamore District Court at 10:30am on Wednesday 7 October 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe is due to appear before Tullamore District Court on 7 October 2026 at 10:30am. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe charged male is due to appear at Tullamore District Court on 7 October 2026 at 10:30am (garda.ie)
- otherThe Prison Officers Association said there were almost 400 documented drone deliveries of drugs, weapons and other contraband to Irish prisons last year. (rte.ie)
- otherThe Irish Prison Service transferred inmates from Dublin suspected of receiving contraband to other prisons around the country. (rte.ie)
- otherAuthorities suspect the transfer of inmates has led to an increase in drone deliveries to other prisons including Midlands Prison. (rte.ie)
- otherThe Irish Prison Service is working with An Garda Síochána on the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA second man in his 40s has been released without charge (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe second man in his 40s was released without charge. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherA file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Oct202607/10/2026 Court Appearance: Seizure of Drone, Suspected Drugs and Mobile Phones, Portlaoise, Co Laois, 6th October 2026
Garda press release confirming the male in his 30s has been charged and is due at Tullamore District Court; second male in his 40s released without charge with file to DPP; investigations ongoing.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 7 Oct2026Man due in court over Portlaoise drones, phones and drug seizure
First report of the arrest and upcoming court appearance; details the seizure of drones, phones and suspected drugs near Portlaoise Prison and the release of the second suspect.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 7 Oct2026Man due in court following drone crash at Portlaoise prison
First report of the drone incident; man in 30s due in Tullamore District Court, second man in 40s released without charge, file to be prepared for the DPP.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 7 Oct2026Man (30s) charged after drone smuggling contraband into Midlands Prison crashes
Initial report of the drone crash, arrests, and court appearance; includes context about a separate inmate overdose incident at Midlands Prison the previous month.
accused, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 6 Oct2026Arrests as drones seized at prison in Portlaoise
Initial report of the arrest and drone seizure; investigation ongoing.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 6 Oct2026Two arrested as drone crashes in prison smuggling attempt
Two men aged in their 30s and 40s detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 after a drone carrying suspected cannabis, tablets, and mobile phones crashed into the roof of the Prison Officers Training College in Portlaoise during a smuggling attempt into Midlands Prison.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 6 Oct202606/10/2026 Seizure of Drone, Suspected Drugs and Mobile Phones, Portlaoise, Co Laois, 6th October 2026
Original Garda press release describing the initial drone interception, seizure of items, and arrest of two males. Adds that the drone was flying in close proximity to Portlaoise Prison Campus and that the suspected drugs will be forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male