AN intelligence-led operation by the Galway Garda Divisional Drugs Unit last week resulted in the seizure of nearly €433,000 worth of illegal drugs.

Drugs Unit officers assisted by local Gardaí launched a search on a house in Ballinsloe last Friday and discovered what they described as a sophisticated ‘cannabis growhouse’.

One man in his late thirties was arrested at the scene and the discovery led to a follow-up search operation in Athlone which uncovered a second cannabis growhouse.

The 160 suspected cannabis plants found in Ballinasloe have been estimated by Gardaí to be worth in the region of €128,000.

The follow-up search, at a house in Athlone, revealed a far bigger cannabis growhouse operation – here, 381 cannabis plants, worth an estimated €304,800, were seized by Gardaí.

All of the plants have been sent to the Forensic Science Ireland laboratory in Dublin for analysis: the man arrested in Ballinasloe has appeared in court and has been remanded in custody. He is understood to be originally from Eastern Europe.

Garda Detective Superintendent Shane Cummins described the finds as ‘significant’ and as another important seizure of controlled drugs in the national Operation Tara Garda campaign.

“This was a major discovery of illegal drugs in the Ballinasloe and Athlone areas and is all part of our ongoing drive to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute all involved in the production, sale and supply of controlled drugs,” said Det. Super Cummins.

Meanwhile, in a separate drugs related development in the Woodlawn area of East Galway, Gardaí arrested a man in his fifties, after discovering two firearms and a quantity of ammunition in a house search last Monday.

Two double-barrelled sawn-off shotguns and a sizeable quantity of ammunition – over 35 cartridges – were discovered by Gardaí in the search.

Gardaí also seized a cocaine press – normally used to produce cocaine ‘slabs’ after being mixed in with other substances to increase volume – for sale to drug dealers.

The arrested man, who is Irish, appeared before the courts this week and was remanded on bail with what are understood to be very strict conditions. He is facing charges under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.

Pictured: The growhouse discovered in Ballinasloe.