BOISE, ID — Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador has joined a coalition of attorneys general calling for expanded authority for state and local law enforcement to combat the growing use of drones to deliver contraband into prisons.

According to a press release issued Tuesday, officials say drones are increasingly being used to drop items such as narcotics, weapons, and cell phones into correctional facilities, creating safety risks both inside prisons and in surrounding communities.

Under current federal law, only certain federal agencies are authorized to detect, track, or disable unauthorized drones. As a result, prison officials and local law enforcement often lack the legal ability to intervene, even when drones are observed approaching facilities.

Labrador and attorneys general from 20 other states are asking federal officials to grant state and local agencies limited authority to intercept or disable drones before they reach prison grounds. In a statement, Labrador said correctional officers can see drones carrying contraband but are unable to stop them under existing laws.

The request was outlined in a letter to Dr. Sebastian Gorka, who leads the federal Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty. The group cited a nationwide increase in drone-related contraband drops and warned of the broader impacts, including drug addiction, violence, and continued criminal activity coordinated from inside prisons.

The attorneys general are also urging continued coordination with federal agencies to investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for using drones to smuggle contraband into correctional facilities.

The effort aims to address what officials describe as a growing public safety concern affecting correctional systems across the country.