Police have stumbled across a huge cannabis crop while searching properties during a north Queensland bushfire.
Police made the unexpected discovery when called to help fight a bushfire, burning on Laurina Drive at Strathdickie in the Whitsundays, that had broken containment lines last Friday.
Officers from Proserpine, who headed north to attend the fire, then stumbled upon a large illicit cannabis crop while they were searching properties neighbouring the fire zone.
The accidental bushfire bust turned up a total of three cannabis crops, with an estimated street value of more than $1 million.
After finding more than 270 mature plants, they continued searching and happened upon a further 2.5 kilograms of cannabis at the property.
A 44-year-old Strathdickie man was arrested at the scene and charged with multiple drug offences.
