Gardai seized a huge haul of cannabis following a series of raids in Galway yesterday.
The separate seizures included a collection of cannabis plants, cannabis herb and cannabis jellies.
One operation saw officers carry out a planned search of a house in Aughrim on Saturday evening.
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They found cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €146,000, plus €20,000 worth of cannabis herb.
The drugs will now be sent for analysis.
Two men, both aged in their 30s, were arrested at the scene. They were taken to Galway Garda Station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 where they remain in custody.
Earlier in the day, a separate search took place at a house in Ballinasloe.
Gardai uncovered cannabis herb with an estimated street value of €35,000 as well as €7,510 in cash. Cannabis jellies were also seized, with all the drugs being forwarded for analysis.
A man aged in his 40s was arrested in relation to this seizure and was detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. He was released yesterday evening without charge, with a file being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Both operations were part of Operation Tara.
A Garda spokesperson explained: “Operation Tara is an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy which was launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on 2nd July 2021. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national, local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.”
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