GARDA URGES VIGILANCE ON CANNABIS FACTORIES AFTER LARGE DUBLIN SEIZURE

GARDAI HAVE appealed to the public to be more vigilant about the
prevalence of cannabis factories usually in rented properties.

Three men, aged 24, 26 and 52, were arrested and files are being
prepared for the DPP following a raid on a commercial premises at the
Greenogue Industrial Estate, Newcastle, Co Dublin, last Friday morning.

The raids were carried out as part of Operation Vacuum, which has
been going on for several months and is targeting criminals who are
dealing in cannabis that is grown domestically and on an industrial scale.

Friday's raid resulted in the discovery of a sophisticated cannabis
growing operation that involved accelerated growth techniques
utilising technology and artificial heat treatment facilities that
make cannabis plants grow faster, and also increase their potency.

Gardai seized 655 mid-life cannabis plants valued at approximately €200,000.

The search was carried by gardai at the Clondalkin drug unit, the
Garda National Drug Unit and other national crime units.

Further raids were carried out at a site in Navan town, where 40
plants were seized, and also in Clonee, Ballymun and Portarlington.

Garda spokesman Supt Kevin Donohoe said landlords who rented out
either private houses or industrial premises had a duty to know what
was going on there.