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Operation Nitrogen
Man jumps from roof to escape as gardaí uncover cannabis operation
The simultaneous searches took place in Kerry, Roscommon and Co Cavan.
A garda at the Tralee location
DURING THREE SEARCHES in three different parts of the country, gardaí have uncovered €2.1 million worth of cannabis.
During one of the searches this afternoon, a man jumped from the roof in an attempt to escape.
The searches were undertaken as part of Operation Nitrogen, an operation by the Garda National Drugs Unit (GNDU) targeting the cultivation of cannabis.
Three locations were identified and searched today:
- Unit 6B, Clash Industrial Estate, Tralee, Co. Kerry
- House at Falty, Oldtown, Athlone, Co Roscommon.
- House and sheds at Carrigaloon, Virginia, Co Cavan.
Al of the locations were searched simultaneously with the assistance of local units.
Co Kerry
The unit in Tralee. Pic: Garda Press Office
At Unit 6B, Clash Industrial Estate, Tralee, Co Kerry they discovered a large cannabis cultivation operation.
Two Vietnamese males were arrested inside the premises and approximately 1,800 cannabis plants were recovered.
One male was arrested and a second received injuries when he jumped from the roof of the building in an attempt to escape, said gardaí. This man is currently in Tralee General Hospital.
Both are detained under the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.
The value of the drugs seized is €1.3 million, subject to analysis.
Roscommon
Roscommon. Pic: Garda Press Office
At a house at Falty, Oldtown, Athlone, Co Roscommon, searches uncovered the fact that the location had been converted for use as a cannabis growing facility.
There, they found one Chinese male in his late twenties, who was arrested and is now detained at Roscommon Garda Station under the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.
In total, the drugs found here were valued at €240,000, subject to analysis.
Co Cavan
Finally, a house and sheds at Carrigaloon, Virginia, Co Cavan, were searched and a large cannabis cultivation operation was discovered inside.
In total, 700 cannabis plants were recovered and one Chinese male in his 50s was arrested.
He is detained at Bailieboro Garda Station under the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.
Gardaí said the drugs found here were valued at €560,000 (subject to analysis).
The total value of the cannabis plants seized over the course of the three searches is approximately €2.1 million.
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