Gardai in Mayo seized more than 16,000 euro worth of drugs and one man was arrested, following searches of a number of houses in Castlebar, Ballina and Westport over the last number of days.

The searches were all carried out under warrant by the members of the Divisional Drugs Task Force working with local gardai and detectives.

On Sunday last a house in Castlebar town was searched and 1900 euro worth of cannabis herb was recovered.  No one was arrested, however, a person in their early 20s is assisting gardai with their enquiries.

Then on Monday night last, Bank Holiday Monday, a house in Ballina town was searched and a number of cannabis plants, cannabis herb and a small quantity of cocaine was recovered, with an estimated street value of 13,300 euro. A man in his forties was arrested. He has since been released without charge and a file is being prepared for the DPP.

On Tuesday two houses in a rural area of Castlebar were raided. In one house, gardai recovered 500 euro worth of cannabis herb. A male in his 40s is assisting gardai in their enquiries.

In the second home, 300 euro worth of cannabis herb was found. A male in his fifties is assisting gardai in their enquiries.

Then on the same day, in a rural area of Westport, a house was searched and 500 euro worth of cannabis herb was recovered.

In this case two youths, under 18 years of age, are assisting gardai in their enquiries.

Investigations are continuing in all these cases.