Man jailed after drone discovery led to over 160 cannabis plants being seized

A man who grew around 160 cannabis plants has been jailed for over two years after a police drone team spotted concerning levels of heat being generated from the address with a thermal camera.

Tomas Rupeikis, originally of Pitts Close, Taunton, near Somerset, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday 26 March, where he was jailed for two years and four months after pleading guilty to the cultivation of class B drugs (cannabis).

During his hearing, the court was told that on Saturday 11 January 2025, Cheshire Police were operating a drone over Jubilee Avenue, Crewe, when the thermal imaging camera highlighted a property was giving off more heat compared to the other addresses on the street.

Officers were subsequently granted a warrant by magistrates the same day and executed it at around 1.20pm.

Once inside, they located approximately 44 cannabis plants being grown on the ground floor of the property and a further 120 plants upstairs. The plants were believed to be worth between £13,500 and £68,500.

Officers subsequently conducted a warrant at the address and on the ground floor of the property found around 44 cannabis plants being grown. Officers also noted that the windows and back door had been barricaded with boards and foil.

Rupeikis was also present in the address and was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis. Officers would seize two phones and around £210 in cash from his person before he was taken into custody.

Despite answering “no comment” to all questions posed to him, Rupeikis would subsequently be charged and set to appear at Chester Magistrates Court on Tuesday 14 January, where he would plead guilty to the cultivation of cannabis.

He would be sentenced on Wednesday 26 March and, alongside his prison sentence, the 47-year-old, was also ordered to pay surcharge £228.

All the plants seized during the warrant were destroyed.

Detective Constable Ben Harrington, of CID Proactive East, said:

“This case really does goes to show that those, like Rupeikis, who are intent on cultivating and supplying illegal drugs within our county really do have nowhere to hide from our officers who seek to bring them to justice.

“If you have any concerns or information about the growth of cannabis or the supply of illegal drugs within your area, I would strongly urge you to contact your local neighbourhood officers and we will do the rest."

Anyone with information about illegal drug activity in their area can report it to Cheshire Police via the Cheshire Police website.