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Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 21464Drugs offence (heroin and cocaine seizure) · Co. Dublin · 17 Apr 2023

€406,000 of heroin and cocaine seized in Finglas and Lucan searches

On Monday 17 April 2023, gardaí seized about €406,000 of suspected heroin and cocaine in searches in Lucan and Finglas, Dublin, as part of Operation Tara, which targets a West Finglas based organised crime group. A woman in her 40s was arrested at the scene in Lucan, and men in their 30s and 60s were later arrested. On 18 April 2023 the man in his 30s was charged and expected before Blanchardstown District Court that day, and the man in his 60s was charged and station bailed to appear there on 12 May 2023. The latest reported development is that the woman in her 40s was still being detained at a Dublin Garda station as of 18 April 2023, while the man in his 60s is due in court on 12 May 2023.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested17 Apr
  3. Charged17 Apr
    2 reports
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí seized about €406,000 of suspected heroin and cocaine, made up of €209,000 heroin and €197,000 cocaine.
  • In the Lucan vehicle search, about €84,000 of suspected cocaine and €60,000 of suspected heroin were seized.
  • In follow-up searches at three locations in Finglas, Dublin 11, about €149,000 of suspected heroin and €113,000 of suspected cocaine were seized.
Where
  • The searches took place in Lucan and Finglas, Dublin.
  • A vehicle was searched on the Newcastle Road in Lucan at about 2.55pm; one report describes the car search as being on the Kildare-Dublin border.
When
The searches took place on Monday 17 April 2023.
Other details
About €10,000 and £2,000 in Sterling were also seized.
Investigation
  • The searches were part of Operation Tara, run by the Finglas Drugs Unit, which targets a West Finglas based organised crime group.
  • A woman in her 40s was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
  • Two men, aged in their 30s and 60s, were arrested and detained at Garda stations in Dublin under drug trafficking and other provisions.
  • The seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, and investigations are ongoing.
Charges
  • The man in his 30s was charged and was expected to appear before Blanchardstown District Court on 18 April 2023.
  • The man in his 60s was charged and station bailed to appear at Blanchardstown District Court at 10:30am on 12 May 2023.
In court
The woman in her 40s was still being detained at a Dublin Garda station as of 18 April 2023.
30 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí seized suspected heroin and cocaine worth about €406,000. (garda.ie)
  • whatAbout €84,000 of suspected cocaine and €60,000 of suspected heroin were seized in the Lucan search. (garda.ie)
  • whatAbout €149,000 of suspected heroin and €113,000 of suspected cocaine were seized in Finglas. (garda.ie)
  • whatThe total drugs seized were €406,000, made up of €209,000 heroin and €197,000 cocaine. (garda.ie)
  • whatAbout €84,000 of suspected cocaine and €60,000 of suspected heroin were seized from the vehicle. (kildarenow.com)
  • whereThe seizure was in Finglas and Lucan. (garda.ie)
  • whereFollow-up searches were carried out at three locations in Finglas, Dublin 11. (garda.ie)
  • whereGardaí seized about €406,000 of suspected heroin and cocaine in searches in Finglas and Lucan. (kildarenow.com)
  • whereA vehicle was searched on the Newcastle Road in Lucan at about 2.55pm. (kildarenow.com)
  • whereFurther searches at three locations in Finglas, Dublin 11, seized about €149,000 of suspected heroin and €113,000 of suspected cocaine. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe searches took place on Monday 17 April 2023. (garda.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • whenA vehicle search on the Newcastle Road in Lucan took place at about 2.55pm. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe searches were part of Operation Tara, run by the Finglas Drugs Unit. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe operation targets the criminal activities of a West Finglas based organised crime group. (garda.ie)
  • investigationA woman in her 40s was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (garda.ie)
  • investigationTwo men, aged in their 30s and 60s, were arrested and detained at Garda stations in Dublin. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe searches were part of an operation targeting a West Finglas based organised crime group. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationThe searches were conducted as part of Operation Tara by the Finglas Drugs Unit. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationThe seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeThe man in his 30s was charged and was expected to appear before Blanchardstown District Court on 18 April 2023. (garda.ie)
  • chargeThe man in his 60s was charged and station bailed to appear at Blanchardstown District Court on 12 May 2023. (garda.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • chargeTwo men, aged in their 30s and 60s, were arrested under drug trafficking and other provisions. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeThe man in his 30s has been charged and was expected to appear before Blanchardstown District Court. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe woman in her 40s was still being detained at a Dublin Garda Station. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe woman in her 40s was still being detained at a Garda station in Dublin. (garda.ie)
  • other€10,000 and £2,000 in Sterling were also seized. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (garda.ie)
  • otherInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • otherGardaí also seized €10,000 and £2,000 Sterling. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherA woman in her 40s was arrested at the scene and taken to a Dublin Garda Station. (kildarenow.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Apr2023
    Chargedkildarenow.com, first report
    BREAKING: €406,000 worth of suspected heroin and cocaine seized following search of car on Kildare-Dublin border

    Reports the Finglas and Lucan searches, the arrests of three people, charges against two men and the Blanchardstown District Court dates. No existing case matches this seizure.

    accused, 30s, maleaccused, 60s, malesuspect, 40s, female
  2. 17 Apr2023
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Operation Tara - €406,000 of Suspected Heroin and Cocaine Seized, Three Persons Arrested, Finglas and Lucan, Monday 17th April 2023

    Official Garda press release (garda.ie, issued 18 April 2023) giving the seizure amounts by location, the age ranges of those arrested, the legal sections used, and that investigations are ongoing. It does not say anyone has been charged.

    suspect, 40s, femalesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 60s, male
  3. 17 Apr2023
    Chargedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Update Operation Tara - €406,000 of Suspected Heroin and Cocaine Seized, Three Persons Arrested, Finglas and Lucan, Monday 17th April 2023

    Update on the 17 April 2023 Operation Tara seizure: the man in his 30s and the man in his 60s have been charged, with court dates given, and the woman in her 40s is still in custody.

    accused, 30s, maleaccused, 60s, malesuspect, 40s, female