As a part of Operation Nitrogen Gardaí from GNDU, assisted by other national and local Garda Units, searched a number of premises at different locations throughout the country on 19th December 2012.
Eight males were arrested. Seven of these males have been charged in connection with the seizure and will appear in the following courts.
One male will appear before Gorey District Court at 10.30am this morning the 21st December 2012.
Two males will appear before Drogheda District Court at 10.30am this morning the 21st December 2012.
Four males will appear before Longford District Court at 10.30am this morning the 21st December 2012.
The eight male continues to be detained at Mullingar Garda station.
Garda Press Office.
5,800 cannabis plants (pending analysis) with a total approximate street value of €4.6million were seized and eight people were arrested.
As a part of Operation Nitrogen (which is an intelligence led operation by the Garda National Drugs Unit targeting the cultivation of cannabis) Gardaí from GNDU, assisted by other national and local Garda Units, searched a number of premises at different locations throughout the country yesterday, the 19th December 2012.
Details of the searches are below:
Gardaí searched an industrial unit on the Connaught Road in Co. Longford. A large cannabis cultivation operation with approximately 1,700 cannabis plants (pending analysis) with an approximate street value of €1.36 million was discovered inside. Four men were arrested and are currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 as amended.
An industrial unit at Cornafulla, Athlone, Co. Westmeath was searched by Gardaí, where approximately 1,000 cannabis plants (pending analysis) were seized. The total value of drug seized at this location is approximately €800,000. A man was arrested at the scene and is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 as amended.
Gardaí searched an industrial premise in Drogheda Business Park, Co. Louth, where a substantial sized cannabis cultivation operation was discovered. Approximately 1,600 cannabis plants (pending analysis) were seized with an approximate street value of €1.28 million. Two males were arrested and currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 as amended.
A commercial premise in Campile, Co. Wexford was searched. An industrial sized cannabis cultivation operation was discovered with approximately 1,000 cannabis plants (pending analysis). The total approximate value for this drugs seized at this premise is approximately €800,000. One man was arrested and is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 as amended.
A residential house in Foxborough Hall in Lucan, Co. Dublin was searched, where a number of items were seized by Gardaí.
An industrial unit in Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo was searched, where approximately 500 cannabis plants (pending analysis) were discovered by Gardaí with an estimated street value of approximately €400,000. There were no arrests.
Investigations and searches are ongoing. No further information is available at this time.
A photograph will be available from this office at a later stage, please request by email to this office at pressoffice@garda.ie.
