Estimated €14 million of drugs seized during large Garda operation

An Garda Síochána announced yesterday evening, February 4, that Gardaí from the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT) were conducting an ongoing, intelligence-led operation in Mountmellick, Co Laois, and a number of other locations.

Three men were arrested and detained on Tuesday under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at Garda stations in the Eastern Region.

"This intelligence-led operation conducted by the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT) has taken down the main supply network for cocaine and crack cocaine into West Dublin," Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary, Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR), said on Tuesday evening.

"This operation targeting the sourcing, preparation and distribution of substantial quantities of these illicit drugs, stopped them from entering our communities and is another significant blow to an Organised Criminal Group.”

In an update on Wednesday, An Garda Síochána said approximately 182kg of cocaine and 4kg of cannabis herb were seized during Tuesday’s operation.

In a follow-up search in west Dublin on Tuesday, approximately 17kg of cocaine were seized along with €25,000 in cash.

The total estimated value of the drugs seized is more than €14 million, Gardaí said on Wednesday.

Eight vehicles, along with drugs paraphernalia, were also seized in the course of the operation.

The drugs seized are now subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland.

The three men arrested on Tuesday remain in custody under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at Garda stations in the Eastern Region.