Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

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

Case No. 21679Drugs offence (heroin and cocaine seizure) · Co. Limerick · 15 Mar 2023

Drugs worth over €140,000 seized in Limerick, investigation ongoing

On 15 March 2023 at approximately 7pm, Gardaí attached to the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit carried out a search on open waste ground in the St Mary's Park area of Limerick as part of Operation Tara. During the search, 1kg of suspected heroin with an estimated street value of €137,000 and suspected cocaine with an estimated value of €4,000 were seized, along with a large quantity of suspected mixing agent. All items have been sent for analysis by Forensic Science Ireland. No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.

  1. Reported15 Mar
    4 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Over €140,000 worth of drugs were seized, including 1kg of suspected heroin with an estimated street value of €137,000 and suspected cocaine with an estimated value of €4,000.
  • A large quantity of suspected mixing agent was found concealed in the area.
Where
The search took place on open waste ground in the St Mary's Park area of Limerick.
When
The search was carried out at approximately 7pm on Wednesday 15 March 2023.
Investigation
  • The search was conducted by Gardaí attached to the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit as part of Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy.
  • All seized items are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland.
  • No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatOver €140,000 worth of drugs were seized (garda.ie)
  • what1kg of suspected heroin with an estimated street value of €137,000 was seized (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie, limerickpost.ie, limerickleader.ie)
  • whatSuspected cocaine with an estimated value of €4,000 was seized (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie, limerickpost.ie, limerickleader.ie)
  • whatA large quantity of suspected mixing agent was found concealed in the area (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie, limerickpost.ie, limerickleader.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized over €140,000 worth of drugs (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe search took place in the St Mary's Park area of Limerick (garda.ie)
  • whereThe search was conducted on open waste ground (garda.ie)
  • whereThe search took place on open waste ground in the St Mary's Park area of Limerick. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereThe search was on open waste ground at around 7pm (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe search was conducted on open waste ground in the St Mary's Park area (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe search occurred on Wednesday 15 March 2023 (garda.ie)
  • whenThe search took place at approximately 7pm (garda.ie)
  • whenThe search was carried out at approximately 7pm on 15 March 2023. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whenThe search was carried out on Wednesday 15 March 2023 evening (limerickpost.ie)
  • whenThe search was carried out at approximately 7pm (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationThe operation was part of Operation Tara (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe search was carried out by Gardaí attached to the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit (garda.ie)
  • investigationAll seized items are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationNo arrests have been made (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing (garda.ie, limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationThe search was carried out by the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit as part of Operation Tara. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationNo arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing. (corkbeo.ie, limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí attached to the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit carried out the search (limerickpost.ie, limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationAll items seized are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationThe seizure forms part of Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationNo arrests have been made at this time (limerickpost.ie)
  • investigationThe search was part of Operation Tara (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationAll seized items will be sent for analysis by Forensic Science Ireland (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 Mar2023
    Reportedlimerickleader.ie, its first report
    Significant drugs seizure on waste ground in Limerick estate

    Adds that a large quantity of suspected mixing agent was also found concealed in the area, and that all seized items will be sent for analysis by Forensic Science Ireland (FSI).

  2. 16 Mar2023
    Reportedlimerickpost.ie, its first report
    Major drugs seizure in Limerick City

    Confirms the items are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) and adds that a large quantity of suspected mixing agent was also found concealed in the area.

  3. 16 Mar2023
    Reportedcorkbeo.ie, its first report
    Gardai in Limerick find heroin cocaine worth €140k on wasteground

    Initial report of a drug seizure on open waste ground in Limerick with no arrests made.

  4. 15 Mar2023
    Reportedgarda.ie, first report
    Operation Tara: €141,000 Drugs Seized, St. Mary's Park, Limerick, 15th March 2023

    Garda press release confirming the seizure details and adding that a large quantity of suspected mixing agent was also found concealed in the area, and that all items are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland.