Gardaí probe West Cork drugs haul
Cash and cannabis were seized during a day of action in West Cork this week.
Gardaí from the Divisional Drugs Unit in West Cork, assisted by the Southern Region Dog Unit, carried out a search at a house in Durrus and discovered a grow house containing €12,400 worth of suspected cannabis herb and plants.
€6,800 of cannabis herb and €5,600 of cannabis plants were seized and will now be sent for analysis.
In a second unrelated search, gardaí seized €4,900 of cannabis and €17,200 in cash at a house in the Ballylickey area of Bantry.
No arrests were made in relation to both drug seizures but a garda spokesman said that gardaí are following a definite line of enquiry.
Two multi-agency checkpoints were conducted on the N71 and the R586 which included gardaí from Bandon District Regular Units, Roads Policing Unit Detective Unit, Customs and Revenue, Department of Social Protection officers, Cork County Council’s Environmental Protection Unit and Road Safety Authority members.
The spokesman added: “During the checkpoints, only one road traffic offence was detected thanks to an extremely high compliance rate from motorists.”
Social welfare officers detected three people working while claiming a welfare allowance which will be further investigated.
19 vehicles were dipped for green diesel by Customs and Revenue with no detections.
Meanwhile, arrests were made in relation to recent incidents of assault, theft, possession of drugs, possession of an offensive weapon and on foot of a bench warrant.
Of the ten people who were arrested, four have been charged to appear before the courts at a later date while two were released without charge and a file will be prepared for the DPP.
One was brought before the courts on foot of a bench warrant while another was charged and brought before the courts and one will be dealt with under juvenile diversion scheme. There was also one adult caution.
As part of Operation Soteria, a meeting between gardaí and the vintners in Clonakilty was held to collaboratively open new methods of communication between both parties with the aim of reducing public order, assaults and alcohol and drug abuse.
A crime prevention stand was setup in a shopping centre in Bantry where leaflets for car security were handed out in light of recent thefts.