Gardaí have arrested four men for questioning after the discovery of a cannabis growhouse with up to €500,000 worth of plants in Co Cork.
The four men in their 20s and 30s were arrested by gardaí when they raided a factory at Springfield Industrial Estate in Youghal at 11pm last night.
Gardaí recovered an estimated 2,000 cannabis plants in the early stages of growth but which gardaí estimate had the potential to be worth €500,000.
Gardaí describe the operation as highly sophisticated with heaters and watering systems in place as well as drying equipment for the harvested cannabis.
All four men were arrested on the premises under drug trafficking legislation, which allows gardaí hold suspects for up to seven days for questioning.
Two of the men are being detained at Midleton Garda Station, and two are being held at Cobh Garda Station while Garda technical experts are continuing to examine the growhouse.
This is the second such operation discovered in Co Cork and follows the seizure of €200,000 worth of plants at growhouse in Skibbereen last Wednesday.