Thursday 5 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 30272Possession of drugs (cannabis); drug trafficking · Co. Meath · 28 Aug 2021

Cannabis worth €1.3m seized in Ashbourne, Meath; investigation ongoing

On Saturday 28 August 2021, shortly before 9pm, units connected to Operation Tara searched a premises in Ashbourne, Co Meath, and found a grow house with approximately 1,100 cannabis plants, estimated to be worth €1.3 million. The plants are pending analysis. No arrests were made, and garda units remained on site the following morning. The latest reported development is that investigations are ongoing.

  1. Reported29 Aug
    2 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí seized approximately 1,100 cannabis plants from a grow house, with one report describing the haul as over 1,000 plants worth more than €1.3 million and another as an estimated €1.3 million.
Where
The search took place at a premises in Ashbourne, County Meath, which one report describes as a retail unit.
When
The search was conducted shortly before 9pm on Saturday 28 August 2021.
Investigation
  • The search was carried out by units connected to Operation Tara.
  • Garda units remained on site on the morning of Sunday 29 August 2021.
  • No arrests have been made.
  • Investigations are ongoing.
Other details
The cannabis plants are pending analysis.
16 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatOver 1,000 cannabis plants worth more than €1.3 million were seized during a drug bust. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA grow house was located on the property. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatApproximately 1,100 cannabis plants were discovered during the operation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAn estimated €1.3 million worth of cannabis was seized. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA grow house with approximately 1,100 cannabis plants was found. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe search took place at a retail unit in Ashbourne, County Meath. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe search was at a premises in Ashbourne, County Meath. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe search was conducted shortly before 9pm on Saturday 28 August 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe search took place on Saturday night shortly before 9pm. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe operation was conducted by units connected to Operation Tara. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationNo arrests have been made. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGarda units remained on site on Sunday morning. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe search was conducted as part of Operation Tara. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe cannabis plants were pending analysis. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe cannabis plants are pending analysis. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Aug2021
    Reportedirishtimes.com, its first report
    ‘€1.3 million’ worth of cannabis seized in Garda operation

    Initial report of the cannabis seizure; no arrests made, investigations ongoing.

  2. 29 Aug2021
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Garda vehicles rush to premises as €1.3m worth of cannabis seized in drug bust

    Reports the seizure of a cannabis grow house in Ashbourne, Meath, during an Operation Tara search, with no arrests made.