Prison guards intercept pigeon carrying cellphone to inmates

Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Corrections officials in Brazil said prison guards intercepted a pigeon attempting to deliver a cellphone to inmates inside the facility.

The Department of Penitentiary Administration said guards at the Nilton Silva prison in Franco da Rocha spotted some inmates attempting to catch a pigeon Feb. 10 that was wearing a vest-like garment apparently designed for smuggling contraband into the prison.

The guards intercepted the bird and discovered the vest contained a cellphone and battery.

The investigation is ongoing.

Costa Rica's Ministry of Justice and Peace detailed a similar incident in August 2015 involving a pigeon found wearing a pouch filled with marijuana and cocaine at the La Reforma prison, the country's largest, in San Rafael de Alajuela.