Detectives have seized a trafficable amount of cannabis growing amongst a pumpkin patch in Western Australia's remote north west.
WA Police executed a search warrant late last month on a plantation on South River Road, about 900 kilometres north of Perth on the outskirts of Carnarvon, where they uncovered an operation estimated to be worth about $700,000 a year.
Detectives allege this Carnarvon plantation was producing about $700,000 worth of cannabis per year. (Supplied: WA Police)
"It was probably about 200 metres by 100 metres wide and they were low-growing cannabis plants, so they were hidden underneath the other pumpkin plants," Detective Sergeant Luke Wood said.
"They were irrigated ... which has then obviously assisted in growing the cannabis plants.
[It] looked like a pretty well set up cannabis crop."
Police estimate each of the plants at the South Plantations site could be worth about $5,000, with officers tearing up 12 bags full out of the soil.
No charges have been laid and police have gone public in a bid to drive the case forward.
Police described low-lying cannabis plants hidden among pumpkins. (ABC Pilbara: Alistair Bates)
Detective Sergeant Wood said officers contacted the plantation owner, but establishing a culprit behind the crops had proven difficult.
"A lot of the plantations will have leased … so there will be some crops and stuff which don't belong to the actual plantation owners," he said.
"What we're seeking is anyone that may have seen anyone there harvesting any cannabis or the pumpkins … cultivating it, watering it, pulling out weeds."
Detectives say cannabis is "currency" in the crime ecosystem in the farming town. (Supplied: WA Police)
While often seen as a "lesser drug", he said cannabis played a critical role as currency in the farming town's criminal ecosystem.
"It is a commercial quantity and someone is making a lot of money out of it at the expense of people in the community," Detective Sergeant Wood said.
Carnarvon tomato grower Matthew Cosh lives on South River Road but was unaware of the bust.
"I'm bloody shocked," he said.
"I'm shocked because that's criminal activity and, in my eyes, that's enough to make you lose the farm."
Tomato grower Matthew Cosh says he's surprised such a large operation went unnoticed. (ABC Pilbara: Alistair Bates)
He said there had long been rumours of plantation owners cultivating illicit crops and it's attracted police attention before.
"I'm a bit disappointed because it's giving us a bad name," he said.
The 12,000 hectares of farmland surrounding Carnarvon are often described as the WA "food bowl", contributing up to 8 per cent of the state's fruit and vegetable supply each year.
Police say it isn't clear who was responsible for the crops and are appealing to the public for information. (ABC Pilbara: Alistair Bates)
But Mr Cosh said it was rare for a grower to escape the scrutiny of their neighbours.
"They're watching to see what you grow, in case you grow something different and they might grow it and make some money."
"[$700,000 worth] that's a big gorilla … you should be able to smell it a mile away too."