Police drone busts an alleged drug deal in China after tailing a suspect and filming the exchange
- Police filmed an alleged drug dealer exchanging goods with a customer at a secret location discovered by a drone
- Privacy concerns about drone policing persist despite increasing use by law enforcement around the world
Illegal drug deals are typically surreptitious operations, but Chinese police said they managed to catch one in action using a drone.
In a video shared with state broadcaster CCTV, authorities in the southern city of Guilin were shown trying to tail a suspected drug dealer. But instead of sending officers on the road, they deployed an unmanned aerial vehicle.
The operation led them to an abandoned brick factory, where a customer was already waiting in a car. The suspects were seen to be exchanging what police said were drugs and money, seemingly unaware of the drone recording above them. The entire process was live-streamed to officers on the ground, who eventually arrested four people.
Reactions on social media were largely supportive of the police operation, with many praising the use of “advanced technology”.
“Technology empowers the fight against crime,” one Weibo user commented.
Others wondered if police surveillance in China might soon reach new heights.
“Will BeiDou be used to collect evidence a few years from now?” another Weibo user wondered, referencing China’s satellite system that is designed to be a GPS alternative.
