Head of criminal drug drones gang sentenced to six years

The head of a sophisticated criminal operation who dropped drugs and contraband into prisons across the UK using drones has today (Tuesday 24 March) been jailed for six years.

Kaine Jones, 28, of HMP Hewell, was convicted at Redditch Crown Court of conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into or out of a prison and possession with intent to supply a class A drug – MDMA.

The prosecution noted Jones oversaw an organised criminal gang whose refined operation involved repeated instances of drone incursions across England, Wales and Scotland.

Kaine Jones

He was sentenced to six years for the conspiracy to convey prohibited articles – namely mobile phones, charging cables, tobacco and Class A and Class B controlled drugs – into or out of a prison and for possession with intent to supply a class A drug – MDMA.

A further charge of possession with intent to supply a class B drug - cannabis was ordered to lie on file. All the items seized in the investigation were ordered to be forfeited.

Jones came on to the radar of police following a series of incidents around drugs drops into prisons dating back to June 2024 when a Toyota van was abandoned near HMP The Mount in Hertfordshire following a pursuit by officers.

Inside they found a large drone, and a large parcel wrapped in cling film/bubble wrap, which contained items of tobacco, cannabis, iPhones, SIM cards and small packages of class A drugs.

A laptop seized from the same vehicle contained software named ‘Mission Planner’ that included telematics linked to repeated drone flights and included contacts saved and calls made to HMP Bullingdon in Bicester, HMP Exeter, HMP Hull and HMP The Mount.

In August 2024, a large self-build modified drone like the one recovered in June, crashed at HMP Winchester and was recovered by police. Digital forensics linked it to a test flight carried out in July in the immediate vicinity of an address in Tillington Close, Redditch where Jones was living at the time.

DS Lance Pritchard, who supervised the investigation, said on 30 September 2025, Jones was arrested at Birmingham Airport arrivals by West Mercia Police. A subsequent search of his home address found the keys to a Seat Leon car parked outside linked to the prison drone drops.

Items recovered from the car included backpacks, bags and packages containing drugs including cannabis resin, MDMA and tobacco with a total estimated street value of over £20,000, as well as items linked to the criminal operation including electronics, scales, forensic gloves, laptops, multiple mobile phones, building line, fishhooks and adhesive materials.

DS Pritchard added digital forensics on the phones revealed conversations around prices for drugs and drops, routes to prisons and some damning selfies of Jones posing with his drones (pictured below).

DC Michael Vince, the officer in case from north Worcestershire county lines team, said: “We are pleased with this sentence for Jones who was the criminal head of a sophisticated network of illegal drugs drops into UK prisons.

“This was an incredibly complex but ultimately successful investigation by the north Worcestershire county lines team who worked hard in securing this conviction.

“Their efforts have significantly disrupted the ingress of illicit items into prisons across England, Scotland and Wales and caused substantial disruption to the organised crime group involved.”

• This investigation forms part of Operation Target – West Mercia Police’s work to tackle serious and organised crime. New operation launched to target serious and organised crime | West Mercia Police )