Drones, Drugs, and Ammunition: Martin Correctional Institution Becomes Frontline in Florida’s High-Tech Contraband War
MARTIN COUNTY, FL — In a dramatic escalation of prison security threats, officials at the Martin Correctional Institution in Indiantown have reported a disturbing pattern of drone-assisted contraband drops that include illegal drugs, unauthorized communication devices, and, most alarmingly, live ammunition.
Over a two-week period, prison staff documented at least eight separate drone incursions over the facility’s perimeter, each resulting in banned items being delivered to inmates. Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek confirmed that his department was brought in after the warden raised concerns about the growing frequency and sophistication of these smuggling operations.
“They’re flying in cell phones, tobacco, fentanyl, crystal methamphetamine—and most concerning to us, live rounds of ammunition,” Sheriff Budensiek said in a statement to the press.
A New Era of Prison Smuggling
The modern prison is increasingly becoming a battleground between tech-savvy criminals and overextended corrections staff. While attempts to smuggle contraband into prisons are nothing new, the use of consumer drones has revolutionized the scale and stealth of such operations. At Martin Correctional Institution, the pattern was clear: nighttime drops of dangerous materials carried out with calculated precision.
Acting swiftly, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deployed narcotics detectives into the wooded areas surrounding the prison. After multiple nights of surveillance, investigators visually tracked a drone leaving the prison airspace and followed it to a parked vehicle just outside the perimeter.
Inside was Kaheid Ash, a convicted felon dressed entirely in black. Deputies say he was operating the drone, which had been modified with black tape and rigged with water bottles to serve as a drop-release mechanism—a crude but effective payload system. Ash allegedly gave multiple false explanations for his presence in the area, prompting further investigation.
A search warrant for the drone revealed incriminating flight data. “He’s flown it over the prison several times,” Budensiek confirmed, adding that the drone’s logs helped solidify the case against him.
Live Ammo and Looming Threats
Though no firearm has yet been recovered within the prison walls, the discovery of live ammunition has raised urgent security red flags. Makeshift weapons—often referred to as “zip guns”—can be manufactured from everyday materials, and a single bullet in the wrong hands could result in deadly consequences.
“We’re talking about a facility that already averages a homicide per year,” Budensiek noted. “Add contraband firearms to that environment, and you’re sitting on a potential powder keg.”
The sheriff also pointed to a recent incident in New Orleans where ten inmates escaped in a coordinated jailbreak—an incident he says underscores the stakes for Martin County.
“We don’t need that here. Our role, even though the prison is a standalone state facility, is to step in when there’s a threat to public safety,” he said.
A National Problem, Local Consequences
Drone-assisted smuggling isn’t confined to Martin County. Similar incidents have been reported across Florida and throughout the country, from county jails to federal penitentiaries. Most correctional institutions have implemented drone detection and suppression technology, but Budensiek admits the current systems are far from foolproof.
“The technology is there, but the bad guys are adapting. They’re hacking signal protocols, spoofing GPS coordinates—it’s an arms race, and law enforcement is playing catch-up.”
Kaheid Ash is now being held without bond. His criminal record spans over two decades, and authorities are currently investigating his contacts within the prison system. Law enforcement officials believe he may have coordinated the drops with one or more inmates, though no names have been released as of this publication.
Public Safety and Policy Challenges Ahead
As the use of drones for criminal purposes continues to evolve, Florida’s correctional and law enforcement agencies are grappling with how to stay one step ahead. Questions remain about how much contraband has already made it inside the facility, and whether additional suspects are involved.
This case serves as a cautionary tale for correctional institutions nationwide: in the wrong hands, a drone isn’t just a toy—it’s a weaponized delivery system that can upend prison security, empower dangerous inmates, and jeopardize community safety.
Source: WPBF News Coverage on Drone Incident at Martin Correctional Institution
