Gardai uncover huge cannabis growhouse inside Monaghan home during major raid

Gardai have arrested a man following the discovery of a huge cannabis growhouse inside a Co Monaghan home.

Officers attached to the Monaghan Divisional Drugs Unit, assisted by local uniform and detective gardai, carried out a planned search at a residential property in Castleblayney at around 1pm on Wednesday.

During the raid, they uncovered a "sophisticated" cannabis cultivation operation. This included cannabis plants with a potential value of €118,400 and suspected vacuum-packed cannabis with a value of €100,200.

Gardai say the total amount of suspected drugs seized has an estimated value of €218,600, and will undergo further analysis by Forensic Science Ireland.

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A man aged in his 40s was arrested at the scene and has since been charged. He is expected to appear before Cavan District Court on Thursday morning.

The search was conducted as part of an ongoing investigation, under Operation Tara, targeting suspected cannabis growhouses in the area.

Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, which was launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in July 2021. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national, local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.

A Garda spokesman said investigations into this seizure are ongoing. He said: "Gardaí have seized over €218,000 worth of suspected cannabis plants and cannabis herb during a search operation in Castleblayney, County Monaghan yesterday afternoon, Wednesday 23rd October 2024.

"At approximately 1:00pm, Gardaí attached to the Monaghan Divisional Drugs Unit assisted by local uniform and detective Gardai searched a residential premises under warrant near Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan. The search was conducted as part of an ongoing investigation, under Operation Tara, targeting suspected cannabis growhouses in the area.

"During the course of the search a sophisticated cannabis cultivation operation was discovered. Cannabis plants with a potential value of €118,400 and suspected vacuum-packed Cannabis with a value of €100,200 was seized by investigating Gardaí. The total amount of suspected drugs seized has an estimated value of €218,600 (subject to analysis). All of the seized drugs will undergo further analysis by Forensic Science Ireland (FSI).

"One male, 40s, was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in County Monaghan. He has since been charged and is expected to appear before Cavan District Court this morning, Thursday 24th October 2024. Investigations are ongoing."

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