Ireland ‘attractive location’ for cannabis factories

The island of Ireland is "clearly seen an as attractive location" for organised crime to operate cannabis factories, according to a cross-border policing report.

It said successful law enforcement operations against the lucrative trade “does not appear to be an effective deterrent” as production facilities continue apace.

The Cross Border Organised Crime Assessment 2014 was published at a seminar in Belfast yesterday that was attended by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, interim Garda commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan, Stormont’s Justice Minister David Ford, and PSNI chief constable George Hamilton.