Cannabis plants with a street value of $2.5million have been removed from the South West after WA Police Air Wing searches spotted and uprooted the illicit crops.

Police conducted flights throughout the region during December last year through to January in an attempt to locate cannabis crops from the air.

Air Wing officer in charge Insp. Peter Scott said similar flights had been conducted since 1995 and more than 1,6500 cannabis plants had been recovered representing an estimated street value of $25million.

``This year's operation located more than 40 separate cannabis crops growing in State forests around Northcliffe, Pemberton, Manjimup, Nannup and Margaret River,'' Insp. Scott said.

``South West District Police and WA Police Air Wing started removal of the cannabis plants under the code name Operation BUCHU.

``Due to the isolated location of some crops we used both our fixed wing aircraft and helicopter, to help officers recover the plants.''

The operation ran for a week and 1287 cannabis plants were removed with a street value of $2.5million.