Aeronaval soldiers in Panama razed and burnt a marijuana plantation on one of the islands of the remote Perlas Archipelago yesterday, officials reported.

Authorities travelled to the distant island of Isla del Rey where they found a field of fully-grown marijuana plants.

Soldiers uprooted the plants and piled them up for burning.

National Aeronaval Service Commissioner Erivan Fruto told Reuters more than 4,500 marijuana plants have been destroyed in recent days.

"Two days ago we eradicated 3,500 marijuana plants. And today with drugs prosecutors we have just eradicated 1,100. This operation will continue as part of the aeronaval national service," he said.

The fertile Perlas Archipelago are said to be an ideal site for growing marijuana, difficult for authorities to access and sparsely populated.

According to a Reuters source in Panama, no arrests were made but local farmers in nearby islands are thought to be responsible for the planting of the marijuana plants.