Cannabis plants worth an estimated €200,000 and cannabis growing equipment have been discovered following a fire in Skibbereen.
The fire broke out on two floors above the Golden Dragon Chinese restaurant at North Street in the town just after midday.
Four units of fire fighters from Skibbereen and Schull brought the fire under control.
They discovered a substantial cannabis grow operation on the first and second floors of the building while they were conducting a search.
The fire is believed to have been started by heating equipment that was being used to speed up the cultivation of the cannabis plants.
There is no suggestion that either the owner of the building or the operator of the Chinese restaurant were connected with the growing of the cannabis plants.
Gardaí recovered around 500 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of around €200,000.
The building has been sealed off and a technical examination, which began this afternoon, is expected to continue tomorrow.
Gardaí are now searching for a number of people and have asked anybody who saw suspicious activity in the area to contact them in Skibbereen or Clonakilty.
