Drug gangs make huge profits from cannabis factories

Gardaí have seized more cannabis herb and cannabis plants this year than during the whole of last year.

Criminal gangs are making massive profits from cannabis factories, with an operation cultivating 1,250 plants per harvest capable of producing €5m worth of plants over five harvests.

The 2012 Annual National Prosecutors’ Conference heard the average strength of cannabis herb plants had jumped from 8.6% in 2000 to 17%-20% today.