Gardai in Dublin arrested and later released three men after cannabis plants worth an estimated €200,000 and growing equipment were seized in the south of the county.
A search at a commercial premises at Greenogue, Newcastle, Co Dublin on Friday also uncovered forged documentation, a Garda spokesman said.
The search by gardai at the Clondalkin drug unit, the Garda national drug unit and other national crime units, was part of the Garda’s Operation Vacuum targeting cannabis growing sites in recent months.
Some 655 cannabis plants were seized and three men, all Irish nationals, were arrested at the scene.
They are aged 24, 26 and 52 and all were detained at Clondalkin Garda station under the provisions of section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act. They were all released without charge this evening. A file will be prepared for the Director of Prosecutions, a Garda spokesman said.
Further searches were carried out in Navan and Clonee, Co Meath, Ballymun in Dublin and Portarlington, Co Laois, as part of the same operation. Forty cannabis plants were seized at the Navan site, along with various drugs paraphernalia, according to the Garda Siochána.
The total value of seizures is estimated at about €250,000.
“Those operating cannabis grow sites apply accelerated growth techniques utilising technology and artificial heat treatment facilities, resulting, in some cases, to cannabis growth at an industrial level,” said the Garda spokesman.
Grow sites have in the past been located in private homes and commercial premises, which in many cases are rented. Gardai warned that the owners of such properties should ensure they are aware of the activities taking place there.