Armed Gardai storm Malin drugs house

Local man arrested after ‘cultivation operation’ uncovered in flat

A CANNABIS cultivation operation has been uncovered in Malin, the ‘Inishowen Independent’ has learned.

Armed Gardaí stormed a flat in the centre of the town on Monday night before 10pm where they uncovered 15 cannabis plants.

A small quantity of cannabis herb and resin was also discovered in the drugs bust.

Carn Gardaí led the operation, with support from the armed regional support unit.

A local man in his thirties was arrested at the scene and brought to Buncrana Garda Station for questioning.

Superintendent Eugene McGovern confirmed that it was a ‘small cultivation operation’ was found in the flat, but he said it was ‘very difficult’ to put a value on the discovery as the plants were ‘in the early stages’ of being cultivated.

Supt. McGovern said they were acting in relation to a previous incident, when their enquiries led them to searching the flat on Malin’s Main Street.

Inspector David Murphy said the drugs discovery was part of a ‘wider investigation’ that Gardaí in Carndonagh were carrying out. He said it was a ‘live inquiry’, adding that there was no other comment to make at this time.

Eyewitnesses to the scene reported a large Garda presence in the town on Monday night, with up to seven patrol cars spotted.

Meanwhile, in 2012, Gardaí uncovered a ‘large scale’ cannabis cultivation factory on the outskirts of Malin, which was estimated to be worth more than €1 million.