A drug distribution centre belonging to one of Dublin's most powerful criminal gangs has been uncovered by gardaí in west Co Dublin.
In the latest of a series of raids on the gang, cannabis resin worth €5 million was seized when detectives from the national drugs unit searched a premises in Rathcoole.
The seizure followed the recovery of €12 million worth of cannabis belonging to the same gang in Coolock, Dublin, on Saturday night.
Two men and a woman arrested during this week's raid are being questioned at Clondalkin Garda station.
The premises, located on a 20-acre property, was one of the biggest drugs distribution centres in the State, a Garda source said.
The Dublin gang controls the sale and supply of cannabis in the north of the city. "They are big fish. This wasn't a small-time operation. These are big players," the source said.
Officers raided the premises late on Monday night. More than 150 kg of cannabis resin was discovered buried in the ground. A further 250 kg was found yesterday morning.
National drugs unit detectives were last night questioning the three people arrested during the seizure. They are in their 30s and from Dublin.
Under Section Two of the Drugs Trafficking Act they can be held without charge for up to seven days.
On Saturday night gardaí in Coolock intercepted a van and recovered 500 kg of cannabis. A search of a nearby house uncovered a further 500 kg, a quantity of cocaine, a machine-gun and a handgun.
A man was arrested and is being questioned in Coolock station.
In a separate development yesterday, customs officers and gardaí recovered a further quantity of cannabis resin, worth an estimated €2 million, when they stopped and searched a car on the Navan Road in west Dublin. Two men were arrested.
The seizures are not linked, gardaí said.