More than 100 cannabis plants seized

Gardaí have uncovered what they described as a “sophisticated” cannabis grow house in the Ballymakeera area near the Kerry border.

Investigating gardaí seized 122 suspected mature cannabis plants with an estimated value of €97,600, approximately 1 kilogram of suspected loose cannabis material with an estimated value of €20,000, and drug paraphernalia.

The search was conducted as part of Operation Tara and ongoing investigations targeting the sale and supply of controlled drugs and organised crime.

Gardaí attached to the Cork North West Divisional Drugs Unit, accompanied by the Cork South West Divisional Drugs Unit conducted the search of a domestic residence on Monday.

An adult male, aged in his 40s, was arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 at a garda station in the southern region.

A garda spokesperson said: “The seized substances will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. Investigations are ongoing. This seizure forms part of Operation Tara; an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, which was launched by the then Garda Commissioner 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,” concluded the spokesperson.