Gardaí: Cork cannabis factory 'like a jungle'

A massive cannabis factory thought to be the biggest in the country resembled a little jungle, detectives revealed tonight.

Investigators who uncovered the operation in a Cork city warehouse described it as elaborate and hi-tech.

Some 1,200 cannabis plants worth €360,000 were seized by gardaí last night during the raid on the premises in the Hollyhill area.

“It is possible that figure could rise,” said a senior officer.

“It will probably be the biggest in the country by the time we are finished.

“It is a substantial seizure. It will possibly go down on record as one of the major seizures of this type of cannabis cultivation in the country.”

The senior detective said it would take between 24 and 48 hours to calculate the full extent of the find.

The elaborate production plant, estimated to cost around €500,000 to set up, was uncovered after a man in his 20s was found in possession of a small amount of cannabis herb in a car on Blarney Road.

The man is being questioned at Gurranabraher Garda station under section four of the Criminal Justice Act.

It is understood the plants were being grown at different stages using a water-based method called hydroponics.

Detectives said the warehouse was fitted out with state of the art equipment, lighting and fans.

“It reminded you of a little jungle, full of tropical plants,” he continued.

“The system they were using was unusual, a water-based method that pumps the nutrients into the plants instead of using soil.

“The investigation itself is still in its infancy and it is still a crime scene.

“We are dealing with a process that requires a lot of light and water.”

The warehouse remained sealed off tonight as a specialist garda team from Dublin carried out a detailed forensic examination of the scene.

Another senior officer said cannabis factories of this nature were unusual in the south of the country.

“We have seen some like them in Limerick and Roscommon, but this is the first time we have had one in the Cork area of this size,” he added.

“It was a very elaborate and very professional production plant.

“We still haven’t got an exact value on it yet because we are going through the site bit by bit.”