SEARCH FOR MORE DRUGS AFTER CORK FIND

Garda sniffer dogs searched the wooded area of Inniscarra in Co Cork
yesterday in an effort to discover more drugs after cannabis resin worth
pounds 250,000 was found there on Wednesday. Gardai have praised children
who were playing in the area when they came across the cannabis. The
children reported the find to their parents, one of whom contacted the Garda.

The drugs squad from Cork and gardai from Blarney and Ballincollig were
called in and a 24-hour surveillance operation began. At 11.30 p.m. on
Wednesday the gardai were standing by when two cars arrived in the area.
Three people began to examine the drugs, which had been hidden in dense
gorse, and the gardai moved in. A 29-year-old man and a youth aged between
16 and 17 were apprehended. A third man fled in the darkness and is now
being sought. It is understood that he is well known to gardai in Cork for
his significant role in the drugs ring in the city.

The two people taken into custody were brought to Curranabraher Garda
station, where they were questioned under the Drugs Trafficking Act. The
Garda can hold them for up to seven days. The drugs seizure is seen as a
significant boost for gardai in the city, who have had considerable success
in intercepting drug dealers and handlers.

The latest seizure brings to pounds 3 million the value of drugs intercepted
in the State over the past year. Garda Supt Mick O'Loughlin and Det Supt Tim
O'Callaghan said the children and their parents who brought the cannabis
find to light were to be applauded. Their action was an example of how local
communities could co-operate successfully with the Garda.