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Eight arrests after £350K cannabis find Five charged after £350K cannabis find
(about 2 hours later)
Eight people have been arrested following the discovery of a cannabis factory in County Down. Five men aged between 30 and 48 years old have been charged following the discovery of a cannabis factory in County Down.
Police said they have disrupted a major organised crime gang after they seized an estimated £350,000 of drugs in a raid near Castlewellan on Tuesday. Police said they were arrested as part of an investigation into an organised crime gang.
Seven vehicles worth more than £100,000, including two BMWs and a Mercedes were also seized by detectives. An estimated £350,000 of drugs were seized in a raid near Castlewellan on Tuesday.
Five of those arrested are still being questioned. Seven vehicles worth more than £100,000, including two BMWs and a Mercedes were also seized.
Police said it was a sophisticated cannabis factory that involved the re-routing of electricity cables.Police said it was a sophisticated cannabis factory that involved the re-routing of electricity cables.
Eleven premises were searched across County Down, County Antrim and the greater Belfast areas.Eleven premises were searched across County Down, County Antrim and the greater Belfast areas.
A sum of money was also recovered.A sum of money was also recovered.
Det Ch Supt Roy McComb, head of PSNI's organised crime branch, said: "We are delighted with the seizure of these drugs and the number of arrests which have been made.
"We believe we have dismantled an organised crime group and greatly reduced the threat posed by drugs to communities in Northern Ireland and by the dangers posed by cannabis cultivation.
He said police had been "working closely" with colleagues in the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) for a considerable length of time.
"The commitment and skills of SOCA has greatly assisted the work of the PSNI in this and other investigations.
"In addition, along with our partner agencies we will be looking at the possibility of seizing assets."