Gardaí have seized almost 1,000 cannabis plants following the discovery of two cannabis factories in houses in counties Dublin and Meath early this morning.
Gardaí in south Dublin are questioning a man and a woman after they uncovered what they said was a cannabis factory in a house in Stillorgan.
As the result of an operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the Blackrock area, gardaí searched a car at Drummartin Link Road, Stillorgan, at about 1pm yesterday.
Five kilos of herbal cannabis was discovered in the car and a man (33) was arrested. In a follow-up investigation, No 24, Mount Anville Wood, Stillorgan, was searched later in the day.
"The search of this house revealed that the entire upstairs was being used as a cannabis factory. In each of the four upstairs bedrooms there was a pot-grow system with high density lighting systems, reflective wall coverings, and extensive ventilation and air extraction systems," the spokesman said.
About 500 cannabis plants and several more kilos of herbal cannabis were discovered. A woman (33) was arrested at the scene. Two follow-up searches were carried out in Clondalkin and Crumlin, but there were no seizures or arrests.
"The total street value of both seizures is believed to be in the region of €600,000, subject to further analysis," the Garda spokesman said.
The two people arrested are being detained at Blackrock Garda station under section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act.
In a related operation, a house was searched on the Headfort Road, Kells, Co Meath, early this morning where another apparent cannabis factory was found in a house that gardaí said had an electricity supply bypass and air extraction system.
Some 400 cannabis plants, three kilos of cannabis herb and cultivational equipment was seized, with the total street value of the seizure estimated at about €200,000. Two men, aged 16 and 21, were arrested and are being held at Kells Garda Station under Section 2 of The Drug Trafficking Act.
Elsewhere, in separate operations, gardaí in Dublin also seized cannabis herb with an estimated street value of €82,000 and a quantity of cash after two vehicles were stopped and a house searched.
Officers stopped and searched a car and van on the Ninth Lock Road at about 7pm last night. They found seven kilos of cannabis herb with an estimated street value of €82,000.
Three men - aged 31, 35 and 43 - were arrested and are being held at Clondalkin Garda station under Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act.
In a separate operation, gardaí searched a house in the Clonshaugh area of Dublin and seized a substantial quantity of cash. A man (19) was arrested and is being held at Ballymun Garda station, also under Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act.