Galway’s Divisional Drug Unit, assisted by the Regional Support Unit and local gardaí, searched a business premises in the Tuam district on the morning of 20 April 2013 as part of Operation Nitrogen, the Garda operation targeting cannabis growing in the west of Ireland.[1][2] They uncovered a sophisticated cannabis growing operation with about 3,000 plants at various stages of growth, plus growing paraphernalia, valued at an estimated €2.5 million pending analysis.[1][2]

Four held

Two men in their mid-40s and early 50s were detained at Mill Street Garda station in Galway under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.[1][2] As the investigation continued, Galway drugs officers arrested two more men in their 30s in the Tuam area later the same day, while the first two remained in detention.[3][2] All four were held at Mill Street station, and Gardaí said photographs of the seized grow would be made available.[1][3][2]