LOGANVILLE, GA — A metro Atlanta man is being held without bond after a traffic stop led deputies to drugs, weapons, dozens of cell phones and a heavy-lift drone that authorities say were connected to an alleged prison contraband drop.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said deputies pulled over a Dodge Caravan driven by Jalen Jones for a traffic violation. Monroe County Sheriff Brad Freeman said the smell of marijuana prompted deputies to search the vehicle.
Deputies found approximately 2.3 pounds of suspected methamphetamine, 10.3 pounds of suspected marijuana, 12 grams of suspected fentanyl pills and 325 grams of suspected marijuana wax.
The search also uncovered a heavy-lift wing drone.
“It’s not just like the little drone you fly around recording something, this is the drone that is used to haul some weight,” Freeman said.
Authorities also seized four 18-inch machetes, a large folding knife, a knife sharpener, two 12-inch hacksaw blades and two cans of high-potency pepper spray.
“The biggest thing that jumped out was just the machetes and the weapons that he had. Also there were two cans of pepper spray, a highly potent pepper spray,” Freeman said.
Deputies also found 29 cell phones and chargers, speakers, lighters and other miscellaneous items. The sheriff’s office said the combination of items is consistent with those commonly associated with prison drops.
“Not only are they trying to get cell phones and drugs into the prison systems, now they’re trying to get weapons in there too,” Freeman said.
Jones faces multiple charges, including trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking fentanyl, trafficking marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana wax. He remains in the Monroe County Jail without bond.
Drone incursions have also created security concerns at other Georgia detention facilities. Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat said his agency regularly deals with unauthorized drones around the Rice Street facility.
“Last year alone, half way through the year we had nearly 300 drones flights, unauthorized drone flights in and around the property,” Labat said.
Earlier this year, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office installed a high-tech drone designed to respond to illegal drone incursions and reduce contraband drops at the Rice Street facility.
Gov. Brian Kemp also signed a law this year giving law enforcement agencies across Georgia access to new tools, including geofencing, to address drone incursions. The law also increases criminal penalties for drone operators and prisoners involved in prison drop operations.
“We can’t have groups within the prisons and jail systems who are literally running illegal operations both inside of the place of incarceration and outside,” state Rep. Todd Jones said when the law was signed.
