Breaking news: Major cannabis growhouse uncovered in Donegal Town

Gardai seized a major haul of cannabis, worth over €600,000 at a growhouse in Donegal Town on Wednesday.

Detectives swooped on an industrial premises and located 500 cannabis plants and 13.5kg of cultivated cannabis herb.

The total value of the suspected drugs is approximately €631,500. Officers found what has been described as a 'large scale growhouse' with the cannabis plants said to be 'at various stages of growth'.

Gardai raided the premises on Wednesday morning and officers have been present since. On Thursday afternoon, a large garda team was present and removing the drugs.

The searches were conducted by the Donegal Divisional Drugs Unit, assisted by local members from Ballyshannon District.

The suspected drugs will now be sent to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis.

This seizure represents one of the largest single finds of drugs ever in Donegal.

Some of the suspected cannabis plants seized in the raid.

This week's find was made at a premises in the same area where cannabis plants worth an estimated €400,000 were discovered during an operation in January 2020. Then, gardai found between 450 and 500 cannabis plants at varying stages of growth.

No arrests have been made and a Garda spokesperson said that investigations are 'ongoing'.

In late 2023, the Donegal Divisional Drugs Unit was re-established with one sergeant and six gardai assigned to the unit.

Last summer, cocaine weighing a total of around 60kg and valued in excess of €4 million was found washed up on two Donegal beaches in large parcels.

In March 2021, detectives found 41kg of cocaine in a van at Kilmacrennan. That stash was said to have been worth an estimated €2.8 million.

This week's seizures in Donegal Town were made as part of Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy which was set up to 'disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national, local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs'.

A spokesperson said: “Gardaí in Donegal are appealing to anyone who may have information in relation to this growhouse and seizure, to contact the Donegal Divisional Drugs Unit on 074 916 7100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.”