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 Friday last.
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.
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).
