Police have arrested a 31-year-old man after a drone carrying drugs was intercepted by staff at Westgate prison.

A police spokesman said the police drugs unit and tactical support division were called in after the aerial drone “breached the perimeter defences” of the prison.

The spokesman said: “Upon inspection of the drone by corrections officers, several high risk articles were identified and seized.

“A 31-year-old man has since been arrested in relation to this matter and a Pembroke residence searched.”

No information on what the drone was carrying was released.

But The Royal Gazette understands that a quantity of illegal drugs was seized in the incident, which happened last Friday.

Detective Chief Inspector Sherwin Joseph, head of the service’s specialist investigations department, said: “This is an incident where traditional crime is being enhanced by the use of technology.”

He added that an attempt to smuggle prohibited or high-risk items into a prison was illegal and offenders could face up to three years in prison if convicted.