Pensioners arrested after cannabis raid

A COUPLE in their 70s were among four people arrested after gardaí smashed a sophisticated cannabis factory in rural Kilkenny.

An English couple, in their 40s, were also arrested in relation to what gardaí described as “an elaborate growing operation” in an outhouse in the Garrygaug area, 5km outside the village of Mullinavat, in south Kilkenny.

Garda sources said the factory was capable of producing up to €300,000 worth of herbal cannabis a year.

Detectives said the elderly couple owned the property – consisting of a house and outhouses – and were renting at least part of the property to the English couple.

Gardaí said they raided the buildings as a result of an “ongoing investigation” into the sale and supply of drugs in the area. Local detectives carried out the search at 7am on Saturday.

“The search of this house and outhouses revealed that an elaborate growing operation was located in an outhouse,” said a garda spokesman.

“Both floors were specially adapted for the purpose of cultivation. A large generator, as well as an elaborate ventilation and heating system, were all located in the outhouse.”

The garda spokesman said around 65 cannabis plants, in various stages of growth, were located on the ground floor and 18 cannabis plants on the first floor.

He said various plant products and plant foods were also found.

“The total street value of the seizure is believed to be in the region of €35,000, subject to further analysis,” he said.

The elderly couple and the English couple were arrested at the scene and detained at Thomastown Garda Station under Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act 1996. This allows for up to seven days’ detention.

However, garda sources said they expected to release all four soon, saying they were all “well-connected locally” and not considered a flight risk.

A garda source said it would also take time for forensic tests to be conducted on the plants and for a file to be put together for the DPP.

It is understood gardaí do not suspect that the elderly couple knew much about the drug operation.

A garda source said the ‘factory’ was capable of producing 200-300 plants every three to four months, or around 900 plants a year, worth more than €280,000.

“There is big money in this business, once the set-up costs are paid,” said the garda source.

He said the Englishman arrested had been living in the area for some time but was not known to gardaí, nor to police in Britain.

It is the latest cannabis factory to be uncovered.

Last Tuesday, gardaí seized 500 cannabis plants from a house in Stillorgan, Co Dublin and two Chinese nationals were arrested.

In a follow-up operation, gardaí uncovered another cannabis factory, with 400 plants, in a house in Kells, Co Meath.