Gardaí in the Mayo Garda Division have seized more than €29,000 in suspected cannabis herb and cocaine (pending analysis ), and 15 vehicles, as part of a policing operation over the bank holiday weekend.
The joint operation was conducted from Friday April 2 to Monday April 5 across the Mayo Garda Division and involved Gardaí from Mayo Roads Policing Unit, Regular Units, Drugs Units and Detective Units.
During the operation, 25 searches were conducted under the Misuse of Drugs act. These resulted in the detection of a suspected cannabis grow house with an estimated value of €13,600 at a house in Achill.
One person has been arrested in connection with this matter and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP ).
Furthermore, two separate detections were made in the Westport district, where suspected cannabis herb totalling €9,400 was seized. One person has been arrested in connection with one of these seizures, and a file is being prepared for the DPP.
A further drugs detection was made in Kiltimagh, where suspected cocaine valued at €6,200 was seized. All drugs seized are subject to forensic analysis.
A further five people were found in possession of smaller quantities of suspected illegal drugs.
During the operation a series of checkpoints were conducted throughout the division. This resulted in the seizure of 15 vehicles under road traffic legislation.
There were two dangerous driving detections, one detection for drink driving and one detection for drug driving. A total of 51 other motoring offences were detected over the course of the bank holiday weekend.
Chief Supt Tony Healy of the Mayo Garda Division said: "This policing operation involved Gardaí from the Castlebar/Westport, Ballina/Belmullet and Claremorris Community Engagement areas working together to provide high visibility policing in areas of high incidents of Road Traffic Offences.
"This was with a view to creating awareness among road users to help reduce the number of road fatalities and to combat errant road users.
"Another strand of this operation was targeted at criminals using the road network to carry out illegal activity. A number of searches took place of properties and vehicles during the course of the bank holiday weekend which yielded results and has seen more than €29,000 worth of illegal drugs taken out of local circulation."
