Two cannabis grow-houses discovered in last 48 hours

During the operation, more than 1,000 cannabis plants at various stages of growth were found. They have an estimated street value of €800,000.

It was part of an intelligence-led operation by officers from the Tramore Drugs Unit, assisted by the Armed Support Unit in Waterford.

The two men are being detained at Tramore Garda Station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act.

In Monaghan, a cannabis grow-house in the Ballybay area was discovered. Around 100 cannabis plants were found in a wooded area in Larragh.

It is believed the drugs are worth around €50,000. Nobody has been arrested so far in connection with the find.

A number of cannabis grow-houses have been targeted by gardaí in recent weeks. On Wednesday another was discovered by gardaí in Co Leitrim.

It was found during a search of a rented property in the Manorhamilton area.

Gardaí seized cannabis cultivation equipment, along with 50 fully mature cannabis plants, 90 plants in the early stages of growth and a kilogramme of processed cannabis herb.

Two Lithuanian nationals - aged 22 and 49 - were arrested during that garda operation.

Last month, gardaí discovered a cannabis grow-house in Dublin. Officers from the South Eastern Region and the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau carried out a number of searches in Dublin and Wexford targeting an organised crime group.

They found a cannabis cultivation unit when they searched commercial premises in the north inner city area of Dublin.

There were more than 800 cannabis plants, with an estimated value of €640,000, seized. They also arrested four people at the scene.

Officers carried out more searches in Co Wexford where a further five arrests were made.

The nine people arrested are being held at Garda Stations in Dublin and Wexford and they include six Portuguese men, a British man, and a man and woman from Ireland. They range in age from 17 to 45 years.