LAST UPDATE | 22 hrs ago

TWO MEN WERE arrested as gardaí investigate an attempted smuggling operation using a drone at Portlaoise Prison campus yesterday.

The incident happened on Tuesday at 3pm when gardaí responded to a report about an attempt to fly a drone into the prison.

A garda spokesman confirmed that gardaí arrested two men. One man in his 30s has since been charged and the second man aged in his 40s has been released without charge. 

“A drone and a package containing suspected cannabis and tablets, as well as mobile phones, were seized,” gardaí said yesterday, adding:

“The suspected drugs will be forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. Investigations are ongoing.”

It is understood that the drone was recovered with the assistance of firefighters. 

A prison service spokesman said: “The Irish Prison Service can confirm it is working with An Garda Síochána to recover a drone that crashed into the Irish Prison Service College, Portlaoise.

“As the matter is subject to Garda investigation it would not be appropriate to comment further.”

The man charged over the incident is due before Tullamore District Court this morning.