Friday 30 October 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. 13888Drug trafficking (cannabis cultivation) · Co. Galway · 25 Apr 2025

Man charged after cannabis grow houses seized in Ballinasloe and Athlone

Gardaí searched a residential property in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, on 25 April 2025 and found a cannabis grow house with 160 suspected cannabis plants, worth about €128,000 pending analysis. Gardaí in Westmeath also searched a residential property in Athlone, where they found 381 cannabis plants, estimated at €304,800 subject to analysis. A man in his 30s was arrested at the Ballinasloe scene and charged under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. He was due to appear before a special sitting of Galway District Court on Sunday 27 April 2025, and no outcome has been reported.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged27 Apr
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí found a sophisticated cannabis grow house operation at a residential property in Ballinasloe.
  • A second cannabis grow house in Athlone contained 381 suspected cannabis plants, estimated at €304,800, subject to analysis.
Where
The Ballinasloe property is in Co Galway, and the Athlone property is in Co Westmeath.
When
The Ballinasloe search took place on 25 April 2025.
Other details
  • Gardaí seized 160 suspected cannabis plants in Ballinasloe, worth about €128,000, pending analysis.
  • A man in his 30s was arrested at the Ballinasloe scene.
Investigation
The searches were part of an ongoing investigation into the sale and supply of drugs in the region.
Charges
  • The arrest was made under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
  • The man was charged, and the charge is an allegation.
In court
The man was due to appear before a special sitting of Galway District Court on Sunday 27 April 2025.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí shut down a sophisticated cannabis grow house in the Midlands. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe Divisional Drugs Unit found a sophisticated grow house operation in the Ballinasloe premises. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatA second grow house in Athlone contained 381 cannabis plants, estimated at €304,800, subject to analysis. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereGardaí searched a residential property in Ballinasloe. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereGardaí in Westmeath searched a residential property in Athlone. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe Ballinasloe search took place on April 25. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe search was part of an ongoing investigation into the sale and supply of drugs in the region. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe arrest was made under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe man was charged. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe man was due to appear before a special sitting of Galway District Court on Sunday. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherGardaí seized 160 suspected cannabis plants worth about €128,000, pending analysis. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherA man in his 30s was arrested at the scene. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Apr2025
    Chargedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Gardai shut down sophisticated cannabis grow house in the Midlands during series of raids

    Reports a second grow house in Athlone, Co Westmeath, with 381 plants, and that the man was charged to appear before a special sitting of Galway District Court. The Ballinasloe grow house had 160 plants.

    accused, 30s, male