Drugs are an increasingly salient concern in prisons worldwide. This scoping review aimed to synthesise
empirical evidence on drug trafficking routes and drug market dynamics within prisons worldwide. Ten
empirical studies met our inclusion criteria, most of which were from the United Kingdom and were
qualitative in design. The main smuggling routes identified were through visitors, mail, staff, prisoners
entering or returning to prison, and perimeter throwovers. In recent years, new smuggling methods
have emerged, including drone delivery and the impregnation of mail with novel psychoactive substances. While prison drug markets share operational similarities with external drug markets, there are several notable differences, including pricing structures and payment mechanisms.