Cannabis plants worth almost €5 million has been found by gardaí during a countrywide operation targeting grow houses.

During searches undertaken yesterday as part of Operation Nitrogen, an intelligence led operation by the Garda National Drugs Unit, gardaí found a total of 5,800 cannabis plants worth €4.6 million at six different locations.

Eight people have been arrested.

Up to 1,700 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €1.36 million were discovered inside an industrial unit on the Connaught Road in Co Longford. Four men have been arrested.



One man was arrested on the scene following a seizure of 1,000 cannabis plants worth €800,000 in an industrial unit at Cornafulla, Athlone, Co Westmeath.



A substantial cannabis cultivation operation was discovered in an industrial building in Drogheda Business Park, Co Louth. Approximately 1,600 cannabis plants with a street value of €1.28 million were seized. Two men were arrested.



Another man was arrested during the search of a business in Campile, Co Wexford, where 1,000 cannabis plants worth €800,000 were found.



About 500 cannabis plants were found in an industrial unit in Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo, although no arrests were made. The drugs have an estimated street value of €400,000.



A home in Foxborough Hall, Lucan, Co Dublin was searched, where an undisclosed number of items were seized by gardaí.

In a separate operation yesterday afternoon, cannabis and cocaine with an estimated street value of €150,000 was found during the search of a house at The Ward, Co Dublin. No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.