Police have raided a cannabis farm after a TV helicopter following Spain's La Vuelta cycling race captured the rooftop plantation in aerial footage.

Officers in Catalonia seized 40 plants in the town of Igualada, near Barcelona, after viewers posted videos on social media, a spokeswoman for the regional force, Mossos d'Esquadra, told Reuters.

She said no arrests had been made and there was an ongoing investigation.

Spain's Civil Guard released the aerial footage of the crop located on two separate plots, which was taken as cyclists neared the finish line of stage eight over the weekend.

🔴 🚁 El helicóptero de #LaVuelta19 descubre una plantación de marihuana en una azotea. pic.twitter.com/Zhry3x1rng — AUGC Guardia Civil (@AUGC_Comunica) September 3, 2019

Growing marijuana on private property for personal use is legal in Spain, however buying or selling it remains a criminal offence.


La Vuelta is one of the leading cycling races in the international calendar. It has 21 stages and is the final Grand Tour of the year, set to finish on 15 September after three weeks of competition.

Primoz Roglic of Slovenia currently leads the race after winning Tuesday's individual time trial.