Beijing police will soon deploy unmanned drones to detect illegal drug trafficking, reports China News. The drones are in addition to helicopters and high-resolution satellite images, which are already being used.

The drones are two meters long can reach altitudes of 3,000 meters. They have a maximum flight time of six hours and come equipped with cameras mounted to its undercarriage.

When it’s at 1,000 meters, the drone is able to take clear, identifiable images of people and license plates of cars.

The drone will be sent into the sky to provide surveillance around Yanqing County and other neighboring mountainous areas.

The drones have already been used 38 times this year elsewhere in the country. It’s also been doing its job well, having cracked eight cases of illegal drug trafficking. Five of those cases were in Hebei.

While the police look to make good use of drones, the public has no such luck.  At the beginning of this year, four people were arrested for using drones next to the airport.

In June, photographer Trey Ratcliff was detained by Beijing police for using an unmanned drone to take pictures in central Beijing nearby several key historical and government buildings. 

Photos: China News