AULANDER – Approximately 2,000 marijuana plants were located here last Friday in a helicopter flyover.

Bertie County Sheriff Greg Atkins told the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald that his office received a tip that led law enforcement officials to make the scouting trip.

The plants were found in the Hexlena area, off of Early Station Road.

Some stood up to six feet tall, according to Atkins.

If sold on the street, the plants could have been worth approximately $25,000.

&uot;After we spotted them on the ground, we sent out a team to go pull them up and destroy them,&uot; Atkins stated.

Detective Sergeant Kenny Gillam was in charge of the operation.

At this point, an investigation is still ongoing to determine to whom the drug plants belonged.

Normally, a helicopter searching for marijuana plants flies over Bertie County once or twice a year during the normal growing season, but it will also make the trek if a tip of suspicious activity or plant life is received.

The normal growing season for marijuana is similar to that of tobacco, Atkins says.

&uot;These plants were a little big to be so early in the season,&uot; he noted.

Atkins continued, &uot;I’d just like to thank the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office for helping us out with this investigation and with locating the plants.

Their assistance was invaluable.&uot;

The plants were destroyed by fire after they were uprooted.