Police drone tracks down cave-dwelling fugitive who had been on the run for 17 years

Song Jiang was in prison for trafficking women and children before making his escape in 2002.

The fugitive was taken back into police custody 17 years after escaping a prison camp. Source: Yongshan Police

A fugitive who had been on the run for 17 years is back in police custody after Chinese officers used a drone to uncover the man's cave hideout.

Song Jiang had spent time behind bars for the trafficking of women and children but managed to flee a prison camp in 2002.

Police say the 63-year-old had spent a number of years cut off from human interaction by living inside the tiny cave.

Police received information regarding Song's potential location back in September. Source: Yongshan Police

Yongshan police took to social media to confirm they had received clues about the fugitive's whereabouts back in September.

The advice eventually led officers to a mountain region behind Song's hometown in Yunnan province in China's south-west.

After initial successes failed to yield any significant developments, officers deployed drone technology to assist in the search.

Song had spent a number of years living inside the remote cave. Source: Yongshan Police

The unmanned aircraft eventually located a blue-coloured steel tile on a steep cliff as well as household rubbish.

A foot-search then saw officers uncover Song inside his cave where the fugitive struggled to communicate after so many years in isolation.

Chinese state media reports the man had used plastic bottles to collect drinking water from a nearby river, with tree branches proving a source of fire.

The fugitive has since been sent back to prison.