Pubdate: Sun, 28 Dec 2008
Source: Irish Independent (Ireland)
Copyright: Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd
Contact:  http://www.independent.ie/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/213
Author: Jim Cusack
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

GARDAI GO HI-TECH TO FIND CANNABIS FARMS

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.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom