Up to £3 million worth of cannabis was seized by gardai during a raid on a house in Tallaght, Dublin, yesterday evening. Five men were arrested after the haul was discovered by the Garda national drugs unit at about 7.30 p.m.
An estimated 200 kg of the drug was concealed under potted plants in the house, located in a private estate on Pinewood Road. It is believed 4 ft high plants had been imported with the drugs from the Netherlands.
Further quantities of cannabis, totalling about 100 kg, were discovered in a van parked outside the house and in a car which arrived at the scene shortly after the raid.
The driver of the car and the rider of a motorbike, which arrived late at the scene, were among those arrested.
A sixth man was arrested in the Tallaght area late last night and was being questioned at Crumlin Garda station. The other men were being held at Crumlin, Terenure and Sundrive Road stations.
All were arrested under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Drugs Trafficking Act 1996, which allows them to be held for up to seven days.
The scene has been preserved for technical examination this morning by forensic experts. Last night's find follows an £8 million haul of amphetamines and cocaine by the Garda national drugs unit in Co Meath last Friday.