Ireland €2m of cocaine, cannabis and guns seized in multi-county garda operation
On Friday 3 November 2023, Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau officers intercepted two vehicles shortly before 4pm in Finglas, Dublin, and searched addresses in Kilkenny, Waterford, Tallaght and Ashbourne, seizing about 28.5kg of cocaine worth about €2 million, cannabis herb, three Glock handguns and a replica handgun. Four men, aged 55, 32, 27 and 22, were arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996, and gardaí have charged two men in connection with the operation. A man in his 20s appeared before a special sitting of CCJ Dublin on Saturday evening, 4 November 2023. The latest development is that a man in his 50s was due to appear before Court 4 of CCJ Dublin on Monday 6 November 2023.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested3 Nov
5 reports - Chargednot reported
- In court3 Nov
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí seized about 28.5kg of cocaine worth about €2 million and one kilo of cannabis herb worth about €20,000.
- Separately, cocaine and heroin worth over €130,000 and drug paraphernalia were found in a house search in Tallaght on Saturday 4 November.
- Weapon
- Gardaí recovered three Glock handguns and a replica handgun.
- Other details
- Gardaí also recovered a hydraulic drugs press, mixing agent, drug-mixing equipment, €18,000 in cash and communications devices.
- Investigators believe the 55-year-old was the main organiser, and gardaí believe he was working directly for The Family gang and ran the operation from the south-east of the country.
- Gardaí believe the drugs were being transported for delivery to locations around Dublin and Ashbourne in Meath.
- Where
- Gardaí intercepted two vehicles shortly before 4pm in the Finglas area of Dublin.
- Planned searches of addresses were also carried out in Kilkenny, Waterford, Tallaght and Ashbourne.
- When
- The operation took place on Friday 3 November 2023, with the first interception shortly before 4pm.
- Investigation
- Four men aged 55, 32, 27 and 22 were arrested in relation to drug trafficking and detained at garda stations in Dublin and Meath under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
- Two other men arrested in the operation, in their 20s and 30s, have been released from custody, and files will be prepared for the DPP.
- The seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, and investigations are ongoing under Operation Tara into organised crime activity.
- Charges
- Gardaí have charged two men in relation to the operation.
- In court
- A man in his 20s appeared before a special sitting of CCJ Dublin on Saturday evening, 4 November 2023, and a man in his 50s was due before Court 4 of CCJ Dublin on Monday 6 November 2023.
60 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA GNDOCB operation resulted in the seizure of over €2 million of drugs and a number of firearms. (garda.ie)
- what28.5 kilogrammes of cocaine, worth approximately €2 million, were recovered. (garda.ie)
- whatOne kilo of cannabis herb, worth approximately €20,000, was recovered. (garda.ie)
- whatGardaí recovered 28.5 kilograms of cocaine worth about €2 million and 1 kilo of cannabis herb worth about €20,000. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatGardaí also recovered a hydraulic drugs press, mixing agent, drug-mixing paraphernalia, €18,000 in cash and several communications devices. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatFour men were arrested in relation to the seizure of 28.5kg of cocaine. (irishtimes.com)
- what28.5kg of cocaine was recovered. (irishtimes.com)
- whatOne kilo of cannabis herb worth €20,000 was recovered. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDrugs worth over €130,000 were seized during a house raid in Tallaght. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatGardaí discovered cocaine and heroin with a street value of over €130,000 and drug paraphernalia. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatGardaí seized three Glock handguns, a replica handgun, 28.5 kilogrammes of cocaine and one kilo of cannabis herb. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereGardaí intercepted two vehicles shortly before 4pm in the Finglas area of Dublin. (garda.ie)
- whereThe vehicle stop took place in the Finglas area of Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereSearches were also carried out in Kilkenny, Waterford, Tallaght and Ashbourne. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereGardaí intercepted two vehicles in the Finglas area of Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- wherePlanned searches of addresses were also carried out in Kilkenny, Waterford, Tallaght and Ashbourne. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe search took place at a property in Tallaght. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereTwo vehicles were intercepted in the Finglas area of Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereRaids were also carried out in Kilkenny, Waterford, Tallaght and Ashbourne. (irishmirror.ie)
- wherePersonnel intercepted two vehicles in the Finglas area of Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe operation took place on Friday 3 November 2023. (garda.ie)
- whenGardaí stopped two vehicles shortly before 4pm on Friday 3 November. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenTwo vehicles were intercepted shortly before 4pm on the Friday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe property was searched on Saturday afternoon. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe operation took place on a Friday shortly before 4pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe operation's first interception took place just before 4pm on Friday. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThree Glock handguns and a replica handgun were recovered. (garda.ie, irishtimes.com)
- weaponGardaí recovered three Glock handguns and a replica handgun. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationTwo other men, in their 20s and 30s, arrested as part of the operation have been released from custody. (garda.ie)
- investigationFiles will be prepared for the DPP. (garda.ie)
- investigationPlanned searches of addresses were carried out in Kilkenny, Waterford, Tallaght and Ashbourne. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationFour males aged 55, 32, 27 and 22 were arrested in relation to drug trafficking. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe four men were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Garda stations in Dublin and Meath. (garda.ie)
- investigationAll seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was part of ongoing organised crime investigations under Operation Tara. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (dublinlive.ie, irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe operation was part of ongoing investigations into organised crime activity under Operation Tara. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe four men were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe suspected drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationA garda spokeswoman said investigations are ongoing. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationFour men were arrested and investigators believe the oldest, a 55-year-old, was the main organiser. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe four men are held under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Garda stations in Dublin and Meath. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe four men were detained at Garda stations in Dublin and Meath. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeGardaí have charged two men in relation to the operation. (garda.ie)
- chargeThe four men, aged 55, 32, 27 and 22, were arrested in relation to drug trafficking and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtA man in his 20s appeared before a special sitting of CCJ Dublin on Saturday evening, 4 November 2023. (garda.ie)
- courtA man in his 50s was due to appear before Court 4 of CCJ Dublin on Monday 6 November 2023. (garda.ie)
- otherA hydraulic drugs press and a quantity of mixing agent were recovered. (garda.ie)
- other€18,000 in cash was recovered. (garda.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí confirmed that four men were arrested in connection with the seizure. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe men were detained at Garda stations in Dublin and Meath. (dublinlive.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherA hydraulic drugs press was recovered. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA man in his 30s was arrested during the search and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 at a garda station in Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe man has since been released without charge, and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherAbout 28.5kg of cocaine worth about €2 million was recovered. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThree Glock handguns, a replica handgun, a drugs press, mixing agent, €18,000 in cash and communications devices were seized. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí believe the 55-year-old was working directly for The Family gang. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí suspect the 55-year-old ran his operation from the south-east of the country. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe drugs were being transported for delivery to locations around Dublin and Ashbourne in Meath. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 6 Nov2023€2m of cocaine, cannabis and handguns seized in multi-county garda operation
Reports a single Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau operation with interceptions and searches in several counties, the seizures, and the four arrests.
suspect, 55, malesuspect, 32, malesuspect, 27, malesuspect, 22, male - 6 Nov2023Gardaí believe man working for top Irish drug gang behind €2m coke deal
Reports the arrest of four men and the seizure of about 28.5kg of cocaine and 1kg of cannabis herb, with three Glock handguns and other items. Says gardaí believe the 55-year-old was working for The Family gang and organising from the south-east, and that the drugs were to be delivered to Dublin and Ashbourne.
suspect, 55, malesuspect, 32, malesuspect, 27, malesuspect, 22, male - 5 Nov2023Cocaine and heroin worth €130,000 seized during house raid in Tallaght
Reports the seizure of cocaine and heroin worth over €130,000 in a Tallaght house raid, the arrest of a man in his 30s, and his release without charge with a file to be prepared for the DPP.
suspect, 30s, male - 4 Nov2023Four arrested after cocaine worth €2m seized in Dublin
Adds that the operation was part of Operation Tara, that vehicles were intercepted in Finglas, that searches took place in Kilkenny, Waterford, Tallaght and Ashbourne, the cash, drugs press and mixing agent recovered, that drugs go to Forensic Science Ireland, and the Section 2 detention basis.
suspect, 55, malesuspect, 32, malesuspect, 27, malesuspect, 22, male - 4 Nov2023Four arrested after major €2million drugs and guns haul seized
Adds the location of the vehicle stop in Finglas, the other search locations, the list of items recovered (including a drugs press, cash and communications devices), the Operation Tara context and the statement that the drugs will go to Forensic Science Ireland.
suspect, 55, malesuspect, 32, malesuspect, 27, malesuspect, 22, male - 3 Nov2023Operation Tara - €2 Million of Cocaine Seized along with Cannabis and Firearms During GNDOCB Operations on Friday 3rd November 2023
Official Garda press release adding the operation details: the vehicle interception in Finglas, searches in Kilkenny, Waterford, Tallaght and Ashbourne, the seized firearms, drugs, cash and drug-mixing equipment, the ages of the four arrested men, and that the drugs will be sent for analysis.
suspect, 55, malesuspect, 32, malesuspect, 27, malesuspect, 22, male - 3 Nov2023Court Notification - Operation Tara, €2 Million of Cocaine Seized along with Cannabis and Firearms During GNDOCB Operations on Friday 3rd November 2023
Gives the charges and court appearances for two men, one in his 20s and one in his 50s, and says two other men arrested in the operation were released and files will go to the DPP.
accused, 20s, maleaccused, 50s, malesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, male