Two men arrested after large-scale cannabis cultivation factory dismantled in Co. Louth
On 5 August 2025, Gardaí from the Dublin Crime Response Team and Drogheda found a large-scale cannabis cultivation factory at a premises in Drogheda, Co. Louth, and seized cannabis plants with an estimated street value of more than €750,000. Two men in their 40s were arrested at the scene and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, while the seized drugs were sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. The seizure was part of Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy. The two men have since been charged and were due to appear before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court on 7 August 2025 at approximately 5pm.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested5 Aug
3 reports - Charged5 Aug
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A large-scale cannabis cultivation factory was found and dismantled at a premises in Drogheda, Co. Louth.
- Cannabis plants with an estimated street value of more than €750,000 were seized.
- Two men in their 40s were arrested at the scene.
- Where
- The search operation took place in Drogheda, Co. Louth.
- When
- The search and arrests took place on 5 August 2025.
- Investigation
- The operation was led by the Dublin Crime Response Team under Operation Tara, assisted by local Gardaí in Drogheda.
- The men were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at Garda stations in the northeast of the country.
- The seized drugs were sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
- Charges
- The two men have been charged with possession of controlled drugs (cannabis).
- In court
- They were due to appear before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court on 7 August 2025 at approximately 5pm.
- Other details
- Operation Tara is an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on 2 July 2021.
29 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCannabis plants worth more than €750,000 were seized (garda.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatA large-scale cannabis cultivation factory was found at the premises (garda.ie)
- whatTwo men in their 40s were arrested at the scene (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo men in their 40s were arrested in connection with the cannabis seizure (garda.ie)
- whatOver €750,000 worth of cannabis was seized at a growhouse in Drogheda, Co Louth (garda.ie)
- whatTwo men were arrested following a search operation in Drogheda, Co Louth (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe men, in their 40s, were arrested at the scene (irishtimes.com)
- whatCannabis plants with an estimated street value of more than €750,000 were seized. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe seizure was from a large-scale cannabis cultivation factory. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe search operation took place in Drogheda, Co. Louth (garda.ie)
- whereThe premises searched was in County Louth. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe search took place on 5 August 2025 (garda.ie)
- whenThe arrests took place on 5 August 2025 (garda.ie)
- whenGardaí found the cannabis cultivation factory on Tuesday, August 5th (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe search was part of an ongoing operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí from the Dublin Crime Response Team and Drogheda searched the premises (garda.ie)
- investigationThe men are detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe drugs were sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation was led by the Dublin Crime Response Team under Operation Tara (garda.ie)
- investigationLocal Gardaí in Drogheda assisted the investigation (garda.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was part of Operation Tara (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing (garda.ie)
- investigationThe men are detained at Garda stations in the northeast of the country (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe seized drugs are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe seizure forms part of Operation Tara, launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in July 2021 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe operation was led by the Dublin Crime Response Team under Operation Tara, assisted by local Gardaí in Drogheda. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe two men have been charged (garda.ie)
- courtThey are due to appear before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court on 7 August 2025 at approximately 5pm (garda.ie)
- otherOperation Tara is an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy launched by former Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on 2 July 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Aug2025Two men arrested after 'large-scale cannabis cultivation factory' dismantled
Initial report of the seizure and arrests; men detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996; drugs sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
suspect, 40s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 6 Aug2025Two men arrested after €750k worth of cannabis plants seized in Drogheda search
Confirms the search took place on 5 August, states the men are detained at Garda stations in the northeast, notes the drugs are being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland, and includes a statement from Assistant Commissioner Cliona Richardson.
suspect, 40s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 5 Aug2025Court Appearance: Operation Tara: Over €750,000 Cannabis Seized at Growhouse, Two Males Arrested, Drogheda, Co Louth, 5th August, 2025
Confirms the two men have been charged and provides details of their upcoming court appearance at a special sitting of Dundalk District Court on 7 August 2025 at approximately 5pm.
suspect, 40s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 5 Aug2025Operation Tara: Over €750,000 Cannabis Seized at Growhouse, Two Males Arrested, Drogheda, Co Louth, 5th August, 2025
Official Garda press release confirming the specific location (Drogheda), the value (more than €750,000), the legal basis for detention (Section 2, Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996), and a statement from Assistant Commissioner Cliona Richardson on the operation.
suspect, 40s, malesuspect, 40s, male