Prison officials say they foiled an attempt to smuggle contraband into the Matsqui Institution in the Fraser Valley using a drone.

Assistant warden Gordon Tanner says the drone dropped a package containing more than $26,000 worth of drugs and cigarettes behind the walls of the medium-security prison just before Christmas.

A news release says alert staff members spotted the drone hovering late on the night of Dec. 23 and seized the package when it was dropped.

The Correctional Service of