Gardaí have seized 5,000 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €1.5 million in Co Offaly in a raid on one of the biggest cannabis factories ever discovered in Ireland.

Three people were arrested after a search at a warehouse at Aughnacarna, Durrow at 9.30pm last night.

A Garda spokesman said a large cannabis cultivation operation was discovered at the warehouse.

Three non-Irish nationals, all men, were arrested at the scene.

One is aged 30 and the other two are in their 20s.

They are detained under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Tullamore Garda station.