A husband and wife duo who attempted to fly drugs into a Suffolk prison using a drone have been jailed. 

Sajad Hashimi and Zerka Maranay, of Compayne Gardens, Camden, London, have been jailed for a combined total of more than seven years for smuggling thousands of pounds of illegal contraband into UK prisons.

Drone pilot Hashimi, 27, flew his DJI Phantom 4 into prisons on 78 dates between August 2022 and October last year.

At least 72 of the drone drops took place at HMP Onley in Rugby, Warks, over 39 dates.

Maranay, 28, assisted Hashmini by hiring at least 20 cars costing around of £17,000.

In July 2023 police were called to HMP Highpoint, Stradishall, near Haverhill, following the recovery of a white DJI Phantom 4 drone which had crashed within the grounds of the prison. 

Fishing line and hooks were attached the drone along with a package which contained heroin, steroids, chargers, tobacco, SIM cards and mobile phones, which had a combined prison value of up to £19,500.

At Northampton Crown Court on Monday both were sentenced to a total of seven years and four month. 

Hasmini received 31 months for conspiracy to supply a Class B drug (cannabis), 32 months for being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug (heroin) and 10 months for conspiracy to convey prohibited articles.

He was also issued a five-year Serious Crime Prevention Order which will come into effect once he is released from prison.

His wife, Maranay, was sentenced to a total of 15 months in prison for her part in the enterprise and six months for conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into prison and a further nine months for converting criminal property.

Hashimi was also issued a five-year Serious Crime Prevention Order which will come into effect once he is released from prison.