At Melrose Prison: 1,030 Cigarettes and 11 Mobile Phones Found in Bottles

On November 9, 2025, a significant seizure occurred at the high-security Melrose Prison. Mobile phones, cigarettes, and several SIM cards were discovered within the prison grounds. Three masked individuals are actively being sought after.

Around 4 PM on Sunday, a prison officer on routine patrol with a service dog noticed several objects being thrown from outside the perimeter. The packages landed behind an area known as the Talipot Unit, which is off-limits to inmates. A narrow strip of land separates the security walls in this location.

The officer promptly informed his superiors and the control post. It was then that a team of prison guards spotted three masked individuals on the roof of the Talipot Unit, throwing stones towards the officer to prevent him from approaching. However, the officer managed to evade the projectiles and secure six 1.5-liter plastic bottles containing the suspicious items.

A few minutes later, two senior officers arrived as reinforcements. One of them found a seventh bottle that had fallen behind the prison fence. Meanwhile, the three suspects took advantage of the confusion to escape. Preliminary findings suggest they may be involved in this attempted smuggling operation.

The seven bottles were opened and their contents examined, revealing 1,030 carefully packed cigarettes; eleven mobile phones, including three miniature models; five chargers; and two spare batteries for the phones. USB cables, as well as chargers, were seized, along with seven SIM cards. The guards also discovered lighters and earphones with a microphone inside the bottles.

The SIM cards were handed over to the police for verification. The remaining seized items were sealed within the prison for an investigation launched by the prison management and the police. The goal is to identify and trace the networks involved in these clandestine operations.