An estimated 3,000 marijuana trees were found and destroyed during a police operation in Santa Cruz yesterday afternoon. 

The find was made at about 1pm some 200 feet into a forested area off Gasparillo Road. 

A team of officers, led by Sgt Martin and Cpl Majeed, received intelligence that a group of wanted men were hiding in a make-shift camp in the hills. When officers made their way to the area, they stumbled across a marijuana field. 

As a result, the drugs were catalogued and destroyed. 

The operation was overseen by Snr Sup Phillip and included PC Mieres, PC Dass, PC Khan, among others.