Aircraft join police in search for poppy

A light plane took off at the Taiyuan Aviation Training Base Thursday to search for any planting of opium poppy by local villagers in remote mountain areas in Shanxi Province, north China.

The first day of aerial patrol was fruitful as the police discovered some poppy-growing land hidden somewhere in Lingshi, Jinzhong City.

It will take a month to complete the aerial search throughout the whole province, according to police sources. The aircraft will fly five hours a day, at an altitude of around 200 meters.

High technologies like ground positioning system (GPS) have been adopted by the police and once the poppy-planting spots are locked, ground action will be carried out to uproot the plant.

Local police authorities have pledged to stop poppy growing throughout the province.