New Jersey military base experiences drone incursions


An Air Force base in New Jersey said it has experienced several drone raids this year by contraband smugglers trying to sneak various items into a federal prison on the military installation.

A spokesperson for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, where the FCI Fort Dix prison is located, told Fox News that digital measures are in place to “detect, respond to and deny unauthorized drone use over our facilities, where permanent flight restrictions are in place that prohibit unauthorized UAS. operations.”

The Wrightstown Gate at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey

The Wrightstown Gate at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. The base has experienced multiple drone raids related to the smuggling of contraband into a federal prison on the installation. (Department of Veterans Affairs)

“There have been multiple drone detections this year, all involving attempts to smuggle contraband into the federal correctional facility on our base, with the most recent interception occurring on September 15, 2024,” the spokesperson added. “We take every matter seriously and coordinate aggressively with local law enforcement to ensure the safety and security of our installation.”

DRONES SPOTTED IN THE NORTHEAST LIKELY FROM ‘WITHIN THE US’, MILITARY EXPERT SAYS

In the past, drones have been used to smuggle contraband into prisons, including cell phones, cell phone accessories, drugs and tobacco, weight loss supplements and other items, The War Zone reported.

The prison is located on the sprawling base, which covers 42,000 acres and is home to the 87th Air Base Wing.

Photos taken in the Bay Shore section of Toms River of what appear to be large drones hovering at high altitudes in the area

Photos taken in the Bay Shore section of Toms River of what appears to be large drones hovering at high altitudes in the area in New Jersey, December 8, 2024. (Doug Hood/Asbury Park Press)

New Jersey has experienced numerous drone sightings in recent weeks that have stunned residents and officials.

The Biden administration has said the drones do not pose a threat to public safety and do not appear to be a sign of foreign interference.

MORE THAN 20 DAYS INTO THE PHENOMENON, THE PENTAGON STILL HAS NO ANSWERS ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF MYSTERIOUS NJ DRONES

On Tuesday, the Pentagon said the drones are likely unmanned aerial vehicles used by hobbyists for recreational purposes.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“Is it possible that some of those drones could be doing malicious activity? It’s very possible,” he said Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder. “In the case of drones flying near or over U.S. military installations, that in itself, given the number of drone flights we see on a given day, is not anything new. We take all of these seriously.”