Drug gangs move into growhouse industry
LOCAL drugs gangs have forged partnerships with Chinese criminals to exploit the burgeoning market in growhouse cannabis.
This emerged last night as gardai uncovered two sophisticated growhouses in Co Kildare and Dublin.
The factories were found in premises in Colbinstown, Kildare, and Ballyboughal, north Co Dublin, that had been rented by one person.
Gardai made separate seizures of herbal cannabis and plants, with an overall street value of €1.64m. The finds brought the value of drugs seized by the unit in 24 hours to almost €2.5m.
The biggest seizure was made in sheds at the rear of a premises at Colbinstown, where 2,000 cannabis plants were found.
Officers arrested a man in his 50s and he was being held for questioning last night at Newbridge garda station.
Irish Independent
