Fairfield County, SC (WLTX) - Over 3,500 marijuana plants were found off Highway 90 in the north east part of Fairfield County, deputies say.

The plants, some as tall as 12 feet, were found on private property with the help of a caller's tip and a State Law Enforcement Division helicopter.  The plants had a street value of $2,000 a plant, deputies say.

"We've been seeing this though out the state, " said Chief Deputy Keith Lewis of the Fairfield County sheriff's office, "Usually the land owners have no idea, or it's been planted in national parks or on paper company property. "

After receiving the tip, the sheriff's department coordinated with SLED and used their helicopter to spot if from the air.  "It looks very green, it's really super green and easy to spot from the air," said Lewis.

Law enforcement from several sheriff's agency's and South Carolina National Guard, chopped down the plants, and then they were put in a pit and burned and buried.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.