Police on the NSW South Coast have destroyed six different cannabis plots, valued at more than $270,000, in dense bushland west of Nowra in the past two days.
The plantations were located in the Jerrawangala National Park off Braidwood Road.
They were first noticed by Rural Fire Service helicopter crews during operations in the Deans Gap fire emergency in the southern Shoalhaven.
The plantations were located north east of the Deans Gap blaze.
Officers managed to recover 173 plants ranging in size from half a metre up to a metre at one plot on Monday off Yarran Road. They were valued at $173,000.
The 30 metre by 30 metre site was located in dense bushland, 50 metres down an escarpment area and was well established with a natural spring providing water for the crop.
The location also had a metal swimming pool, which had been dug into the ground to help irrigate the crop.
A camp was established at the plantation, with officers discovering various booby traps including trip wires and rabbit traps.
Officers also tried to recover cannabis plants from five smaller crop sites west of Braidwood Road but the terrain and bushland was too dense.
PolAir was called in and an officer winched into each location to recover the plants.
The crew made numerous trips back to a location just off Braidwood Road to drop off plants to waiting officers.
A police spokesperson said the plots were well advanced in size for this time of the season.
The plants from all six plantations will be destroyed.
Police asked any members of the public who came across illegal crops in local bushland to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.