Mini Police Helicopter Makes First Bust in Netherlands

Dutch police started using a special mini helicopter last week in the Netherlands.
Mini Police Helicopter Makes First Bust in Netherlands
Peter Valk
4/29/2009
Updated:
4/29/2009
Dutch police started using a special mini helicopter last week in the Netherlands. The Italic this (Cannachopper) can fly in the air by itself for several hours and is equipped with smell and image sensors, meant to detect cannabis fields from long distances. Dutch police aim to combat illegal cannabis growing.

On its first shift the Cannachopper immediately proved to be effective. A cannabis field in the area of Doetinchem was discovered and seven suspects were later arrested. Several tons of cannabis were intercepted. At another location, a grow-shop was found with a significant amount of cannabis, according to Dutch newspaper, The Telegraaf.

Aside from the Cannachopper, authorities are attempting to curtail cannabis by forbidding coffee shops (which sell the plant) to be within 820 feet of schools. The Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), a Dutch centrist ruling party, advocates abolition of the so-called “tolerance policy” towards cannabis presently adopted by the Netherlands.
Peter Valk is a tea expert who has extensively travelled in Asia, interrupted by odd jobs and a short spell of studying anthropology in the Netherlands. In his travels, he steeped himself in Asian culture, learned Chinese, met his wife and found his passion. He has been in tea business over seven years, selling Chinese tea and giving workshops on Chinese tea and culture. Currently, he is living in the Netherlands where he is busily but mostly happily making up for his travel time.
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