Watch: Man arrested after police drone tracks suspect fleeing drug farm
Footage shows the moment a police drone helped officers track down a man who tried to evade arrest by hiding on a rooftop during a major drugs raid in South Yorkshire.
Officers were carrying out a pre-planned warrant when the suspect tried to flee the property.
Police say he believed he could evade capture by climbing onto a roof, but his movements were quickly spotted from the air.
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The man was arrested at the scene, taken into custody and later charged with drug offences.
The raid is one of several carried out across Doncaster in the first half of January 2026 as part of a wider crackdown on cannabis production in the city.
Police have now seized more than £1 million worth of cannabis in just a few weeks.
Sergeant Steve Roberts, from Doncaster Central NPT, said the illegal production and sale of cannabis often bankrolls organised crime groups.
“In the first few weeks of 2026, Doncaster Central NPT have worked hard to dismantle these set-ups and stop over £1m worth of drugs from getting into the wrong hands,” he said.
He added that shutting down cannabis farms goes beyond drug crime alone, helping police tackle wider issues such as illegal migration, violent crime and the exploitation of vulnerable people.
“These properties are also extremely dangerous,” Sgt Roberts said.
“Electricity is often illegally bypassed, creating a serious fire risk to neighbouring homes and residents.”
Police warned that cannabis farms can increase the risk of violence in local communities, with innocent people sometimes caught up in criminal disputes.
Police have urged residents to report suspicious activity in their area as enforcement action continues into 2026.