Gardaí have seized nearly 430kg of cannabis in a major operation in south Dublin. 

Four people have been arrested after the drugs, with an estimated street value of  8.5 million were seized. 

Gardaí said they intercepted two vehicles in the Ballymount area of the city just after 3pm yesterday – before carrying out a planned search of the business premises in the area. 

During the searches, officers uncovered 429kg of cannabis. 

Four men, aged 31,45, 52 and 58 were arrested on suspicion of “facilitating and enhancing a criminal organisation to commit drug trafficking offences”. 

All four are now being questioned at Garda stations in the Dublin region. 

In a statement, Garda Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly said “This operation is another example of our commitment to target the enablers and facilitators of global drug trafficking networks and our ongoing efforts to make Ireland a difficult environment for them to operate in.” 

The searches were carried out by officers from the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau and the Tallaght Drug Unit supported by the Revenue Customs Service. 

The Garda investigation is ongoing.