Ireland €1.2m cocaine seized from Traveller gang in north Dublin
On Monday 19 June 2023, gardaí intercepted two cars in The Ward, northwest Dublin, near the Co Meath border, and seized cocaine with an estimated street value of €1.2 million. Follow-up searches of six homes, three business premises and lands at two locations found cash of €350,000 and £28,000 (about €32,730), along with financial documents, vehicles, electronic devices, a money counter and a vacuum-packing machine. A 40-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of organised crime offences under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, and detained at a garda station in Co Meath. By 21 June 2023 he had been charged in connection with the seizure, and no court appearance or sentence has been reported.
- Reported21 Jun
- Arrested21 Jun
- Charged21 Jun
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Cocaine with an estimated street value of €1.2 million was seized.
- Cash of €350,000 and £28,000 sterling (about €32,730) was seized, found in two bags in a shed.
- Financial documents, vehicles, electronic devices, a money counter and a vacuum-packing machine were seized and taken for examination.
- Where
- Two cars were intercepted in The Ward, northwest Dublin, near the Co Meath border and the N2.
- When
- The interception and searches took place on Monday 19 June 2023.
- Cause
- The operation followed intelligence received by gardaí before the interception.
- Investigation
- The operation was carried out by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau with Emergency Response Unit support as part of Operation Tara.
- Follow-up searches were carried out at six homes, three business premises and lands at two locations in The Ward.
- Defence Forces members used metal detectors in fields and sheds to search for buried drugs and weapons.
- Charges
- A man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of organised crime offences under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006.
- The 40-year-old man was detained at a garda station in Co Meath and later charged in connection with the seizure.
- Other details
- The Defence Forces and Criminal Assets Bureau officers assisted the operation.
- The gang is described as a notorious Traveller gang and a priority target for the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, which believes it smuggles narcotics into the country with international contacts.
25 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCocaine with an estimated street value of €1.2 million was seized. (irishtimes.com, rte.ie)
- whatCash totalling €350,000 and £28,000 (€32,730) was seized. (rte.ie)
- whatFinancial documentation, vehicles, electronic devices, a money counter and a vacuum-packing machine were also seized. (rte.ie)
- whatCocaine worth €1.2 million was seized after gardaí intercepted two cars. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereGardaí intercepted two cars in The Ward, northwest Dublin, near the Co Meath border. (irishtimes.com)
- whereSearches took place in The Ward area of Dublin near the Meath border. (rte.ie)
- whereThe two vehicles were intercepted in The Ward area, near the N2, in north County Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe interception followed intelligence received on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe searches took place on Monday. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe operation was carried out by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau with Emergency Response Unit support. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationFollow-up searches were carried out at six homes, three business premises and lands at two locations in The Ward. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA further €350,000 and £28,000 sterling in cash was found during the searches. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe searches were carried out as part of Operation Tara. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau acted on intelligence before the interception. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThree business premises and six residential properties and lands were searched after the seizure. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDefence Forces members used metal detectors in fields and sheds to find buried drugs and weapons. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDetectives believe the gang smuggles narcotics into the country and works with international contacts. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeOne man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of organised crime offences under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeA 40-year-old man was detained at a garda station in Co Meath and later charged in connection with the seizure. (rte.ie)
- otherFinancial documents, electronic devices, a money counter and a vacuum-packing machine were also found. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe arrested man is being held for questioning in a Garda station in Co Meath. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Defence Forces and Criminal Assets Bureau officers also assisted the operation. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCash of €350,000 and £28,000 sterling was found in two bags in a shed. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherFinancial documents, vehicles, electronic devices, a money counter and a vacuum-packing machine were taken for examination. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe gang is described as a priority target for the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 21 Jun2023€1.2million worth of cocaine seized from notorious Traveller gang
Reports the cocaine seizure, the cash and items recovered in follow-up searches, and the gang's status as a priority target. The article gives no arrests or charges.
- 21 Jun2023Drugs and cash worth €1.5m seized in Dublin and Meath
Adds that a 40-year-old man was arrested, detained at a Co Meath garda station and later charged, and gives the cash total of €350,000 plus £28,000 (€32,730) and the other items seized.
accused, 40, male - 21 Jun2023Gardaí seize €1.2m worth of cocaine in ‘significant’ operation
Adds the arrest of a man in his 40s, who is held in a Co Meath Garda station, and the follow-up searches at six homes, three business premises and two areas of land. It also names the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, the Emergency Response Unit, the Defence Forces and the Criminal Assets Bureau, and gives the Section 72 basis for the arrest.
suspect, 40s, male