Cannabis plants worth €5m seized in raids

Cannabis plants worth €5m have been seized as part of an ongoing nationwide anti-drugs operation.

Four industrial-style growhouses were raided by gardaí across the country and five men — three Asian and two Polish, all in their 30s — were arrested.

The biggest warehouse operation was in Tramore, Co Waterford, where €1.6m of the drugs was recovered from a unit that had been converted into a growhouse.

In Swinford, Co Mayo, an estimated €1.4m worth of the drug was found, while in Ardee, Co Louth, €1.2m worth was found, and €800,00 worth in Newbridge, Co Kildare.

The raids were carried out by the Garda drugs squad under Operation Nitrogen.

Officers from local divisions supported the search teams and further inspections were carried in Buncrana, Co Donegal, Gardiner St in central Dublin and also in Clondalkin in the west of the capital.

A storage depot for equipment used to cultivate the drug in warehouses was also discovered in an industrial unit in Blanchardstown, west Dublin.

The five suspects were all held under section two of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

They were being questioned in Ballina, Tramore, and Drogheda.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter revealed last week that Operation Nitrogen had led to more than 500 drugs factories being raided on the back of Garda intelligence last year.

More than 26,000 cannabis plants valued at €10.5m — the majority of which were regarded as high potency — were seized and destroyed.

Among other major successes this year was a raid on a house in late June near Menlough, Co Galway, which uncovered 800 plants worth about €640,000.

This month alone, 480 plants worth €380,000 were found at a house in Lobinstown, Navan, Co Meath, and a warehouse at Drumaville near Malin, Co Donegal, held about €1m worth of plants.