Gardaí seize drugs worth €432,800 after double growhouse raid
A man (30s) is due to appear before a special sitting of Galway District Court
Two men have been arrested after Gardaí seized 160 suspected cannabis plants worth approximately €128,000 in Co Galway and 381 plants worth an estimated €304,800 in Co Westmeath.
'As part of an ongoing investigation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the region, Gardaí in Co Galway conducted a planned search of a residential property in Ballinasloe on 25th April, 2025.
The Athlone growhouse
'During the course of this search, the Divisional Drugs Unit discovered a sophisticated growhouse operation within the premises and seized 160 suspected cannabis plants worth approximately €128,000 (pending further analysis).
'A man aged in his 30s was arrested at the scene and detained at a station in the Garda North Western Region under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
The growhouse in Ballinasloe
'In a follow-up search, Gardaí in Co Westmeath searched a residential property in Athlone and discovered another sophisticated growhouse, which contained a total of 381 cannabis plants, with an estimated value of €304,800 (subject to analysis).
'The man was subsequently charged to appear before a special sitting of Galway District Court today, Sunday, 27th April, at 11:30am.'
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