Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
GARDAI are to consider the use of satellite or aircraft infrared detection after discovering that marijuana-growing operations are sprouting up all over the country.
So far at least five of the operations have been uncovered -- but gardai believe there may be dozens or even a 100 more. The marijuana cultivation operations have come to light following a major operation by the PSNI which uncovered 65 of the cultivation operations run from rented houses in the North.
Sources say satellite infrared technology was used there and in Britain. Gardai are not certain if there is any direction connection between the home-growing operations in the Britain and in Ireland.
The profits are spectacular as the price of cannabis and herbal cannabis has risen in recent years.
Police in Scotland last year uncovered 143 of the plant-growing operations in rented houses and estimated the annual turnover at around €25m. So far the gardai have just begun uncovering the marijuana growing operations by chance and by foot-slogging -- going around auctioneers and letting agents and asking them if they have had any unusual property lettings in the past year.
One marijuana operation here was detected in October when gardai were tipped off by the PSNI about two rented houses outside Catleblayney in Monaghan.They discovered 700 plants growing under 1000-watt 'grow-lights'. Gardai estimated the street value of the herbal cannabis at over €400,000.
In the past week further growing operations have been uncovered in Drumconrath, Co Meath; at Fassaroe, outside Bray, Co Wicklow; and at Marshallstown in Co Wexford. It is understood that in each of these around 350-400 plants were discovered, all under cultivation using very similar techniques and equipment.
The find in Wexford last week followed a series of coincidences in which gardai were called after a woman outside Ferns thought her car was being broken into by two men.
When she went to investigate she found the two Chinese men had opened the boot of her car and placed two suitcases in it. They apologised, removed the suitcases and drove off. Gardai later stopped a taxi driven by a Chinese national on the Gorey by-pass and arrested two men.
Gardai learned that the Chinese growers had been told to deposit the suitcases containing the drug in a car parked outside Ferns which would have its hazard lights on and they mistakenly put the drug in the boot of the car belonging to the woman farmer -- whose car was parked at the side of the road and had its hazard lights on.
The woman and her husband pursued the taxi and called the gardai. A follow-up search by Wexford gardai uncovered the house in Marshallstown where the drugs were recovered and they found that a new crop was under cultivation. The house had been rented by a Chinese national.
When they questioned the men and women found growing the marijuana, UK police said that they all said they had been brought into Europe illegally and were 'offered' work as 'gardeners' at around €200 to €300 a week. They also said their passports and any other documents are taken off them. The man arrested at the house in Wexford last week had no documentation.
Up to now the only legal method for detecting such operation by gardai is to go to auctioneers and letting agents and ask, in general terms, if they have had any lettings which have raised their suspicions. If they do receive a tip off then they have to go about gathering more evidence before seeking a search warrant, a process that could take weeks.
Although the UK authorities have not made any public comment it is understood that they used satellite imaging to detect properties where cannabis growing was underway. This technology is well established and has been used in many other countries starting with the United States. The infrared satellite cameras can show, house-by-house, the amount of heat emanating from a building.
Domestic marijauna growing requires the use of the heat-emitting grow lights which give off high amounts of infrared heat which is easily detected by the satellite thermal imaging. Such satellite imaging has already been used here for EU crop inspections.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Irish Independent (Ireland)
Copyright: Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd
Contact: independent.letters@independent.ie
Website: Irish Independent News in Ireland & Worldwide | Irish Newspaper | News Stories Online - Independent.ie
Author: Jim Cusack
So far at least five of the operations have been uncovered -- but gardai believe there may be dozens or even a 100 more. The marijuana cultivation operations have come to light following a major operation by the PSNI which uncovered 65 of the cultivation operations run from rented houses in the North.
Sources say satellite infrared technology was used there and in Britain. Gardai are not certain if there is any direction connection between the home-growing operations in the Britain and in Ireland.
The profits are spectacular as the price of cannabis and herbal cannabis has risen in recent years.
Police in Scotland last year uncovered 143 of the plant-growing operations in rented houses and estimated the annual turnover at around €25m. So far the gardai have just begun uncovering the marijuana growing operations by chance and by foot-slogging -- going around auctioneers and letting agents and asking them if they have had any unusual property lettings in the past year.
One marijuana operation here was detected in October when gardai were tipped off by the PSNI about two rented houses outside Catleblayney in Monaghan.They discovered 700 plants growing under 1000-watt 'grow-lights'. Gardai estimated the street value of the herbal cannabis at over €400,000.
In the past week further growing operations have been uncovered in Drumconrath, Co Meath; at Fassaroe, outside Bray, Co Wicklow; and at Marshallstown in Co Wexford. It is understood that in each of these around 350-400 plants were discovered, all under cultivation using very similar techniques and equipment.
The find in Wexford last week followed a series of coincidences in which gardai were called after a woman outside Ferns thought her car was being broken into by two men.
When she went to investigate she found the two Chinese men had opened the boot of her car and placed two suitcases in it. They apologised, removed the suitcases and drove off. Gardai later stopped a taxi driven by a Chinese national on the Gorey by-pass and arrested two men.
Gardai learned that the Chinese growers had been told to deposit the suitcases containing the drug in a car parked outside Ferns which would have its hazard lights on and they mistakenly put the drug in the boot of the car belonging to the woman farmer -- whose car was parked at the side of the road and had its hazard lights on.
The woman and her husband pursued the taxi and called the gardai. A follow-up search by Wexford gardai uncovered the house in Marshallstown where the drugs were recovered and they found that a new crop was under cultivation. The house had been rented by a Chinese national.
When they questioned the men and women found growing the marijuana, UK police said that they all said they had been brought into Europe illegally and were 'offered' work as 'gardeners' at around €200 to €300 a week. They also said their passports and any other documents are taken off them. The man arrested at the house in Wexford last week had no documentation.
Up to now the only legal method for detecting such operation by gardai is to go to auctioneers and letting agents and ask, in general terms, if they have had any lettings which have raised their suspicions. If they do receive a tip off then they have to go about gathering more evidence before seeking a search warrant, a process that could take weeks.
Although the UK authorities have not made any public comment it is understood that they used satellite imaging to detect properties where cannabis growing was underway. This technology is well established and has been used in many other countries starting with the United States. The infrared satellite cameras can show, house-by-house, the amount of heat emanating from a building.
Domestic marijauna growing requires the use of the heat-emitting grow lights which give off high amounts of infrared heat which is easily detected by the satellite thermal imaging. Such satellite imaging has already been used here for EU crop inspections.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Irish Independent (Ireland)
Copyright: Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd
Contact: independent.letters@independent.ie
Website: Irish Independent News in Ireland & Worldwide | Irish Newspaper | News Stories Online - Independent.ie
Author: Jim Cusack
