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. 21728Firearms and drugs offence (weapons and drugs seizure) · Co. Dublin · 27 Mar 2023

Firearms and drugs seized in Finglas and Tallaght, Dublin

On 27 March 2023, gardaí conducting a search as part of Operation Thor at vacant waste land in Finglas, Dublin 11, seized three suspected firearms and approximately €177,000 in suspected cocaine and cannabis, some of which had been buried in a barrel in the ground. A separate warrant search at a property and vehicle in Tallaght on 28 March yielded over €190,000 in suspected drugs and €2,560 in cash. The firearms are to be sent to the Garda Ballistics Unit and the drugs to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. No arrests have been made and Garda investigations remain ongoing.

  1. Reported27 Mar
    2 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
  • Three suspected firearms and approximately €177,000 in suspected drugs were seized at vacant waste land in Finglas, Dublin 11, on 27 March 2023.
  • Suspected cocaine valued at approximately €92,000 and suspected cannabis valued at approximately €85,000 were seized in Finglas.
  • Over €190,000 in suspected drugs and €2,560 in cash were seized at a property and vehicle in Tallaght on 28 March 2023.
Weapon
A Scorpion Machine Pistol with magazine clip, ammunition and silencer, a Sig Saur Pistol with ammunition, and a RAK 63 Machine Pistol with magazine clip were seized.
Where
The Finglas search took place at vacant waste land in Dublin 11, with some items found in a barrel buried in the ground.
When
The Finglas search occurred at approximately 3pm on Monday 27 March 2023.
Investigation
  • The searches were conducted as part of Operation Thor by the Finglas Detective Unit supported by the K District Task Force and the Garda Dog Unit.
  • The firearms are to be sent to the Garda Ballistics Unit and the drugs to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
  • Garda investigations are ongoing and no arrests have been made.
32 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThree suspected firearms were seized during the search. (garda.ie)
  • whatA Scorpion Machine Pistol with magazine clip, ammunition and silencer was seized. (garda.ie)
  • whatA Sig Saur Pistol with ammunition was seized. (garda.ie)
  • whatA RAK 63 Machine Pistol and magazine clip was seized. (garda.ie)
  • whatSuspected cocaine with an estimated value of approximately €92,000 was seized. (garda.ie)
  • whatSuspected cannabis with an estimated value of approximately €85,000 was seized. (garda.ie)
  • whatApproximately €177,000 of suspected drugs were seized during the Finglas search (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSome of the seized items had been buried in a barrel in the ground (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSuspected cocaine with an estimated value of approximately €92,000 was seized in Finglas (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSuspected cannabis with an estimated value of approximately €85,000 was seized in Finglas (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMore than €190,000 worth of drugs were seized in Tallaght, Dublin (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSuspected cocaine valued at €125,020 was seized in Tallaght (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCannabis valued at €66,200 was seized in Tallaght (irishtimes.com)
  • what€2,560 in cash was located at the Tallaght property (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe search took place at vacant waste land in the Finglas area, Dublin 11. (garda.ie)
  • whereItems were found at various locations within the waste land, including in a barrel buried into the ground. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe search took place at vacant waste land in the Finglas area of Dublin (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe search occurred at approximately 3pm on Monday 27 March 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe Finglas search took place at approximately 3pm on Monday 27 March 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponA Scorpion Machine Pistol with magazine clip, ammunition and a silencer was found during the search (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponAn RAK 63 Machine Pistol and magazine clip were found during the search (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponA Sig Saur Pistol with ammunition was found during the search (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe search was conducted as part of Operation Thor by the Finglas Detective Unit supported by the K District Task Force and the Garda Dog Unit. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe firearms will be sent for analysis at the Garda Ballistics Unit. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe drugs will be sent for analysis at Forensic Science Ireland. (garda.ie)
  • investigationGarda investigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe search was conducted as part of Operation Thor targeting organised crime (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe search involved gardaí from the Finglas Detective Unit supported by the K District Task Force and the Garda Dog Unit (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe firearms and drugs from Finglas are due to be sent for analysis at the Garda Ballistics Unit and Forensic Science Ireland (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationInvestigations into the Finglas search are ongoing (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe Tallaght drugs discovery followed a search of a property and a vehicle under warrant on Tuesday morning (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe Tallaght drugs will undergo further analysis by Forensic Science Ireland (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Mar2023
    Reportedirishtimes.com, its first report
    Machine gun and drugs found during Finglas search

    Reports the Finglas Operation Thor search that uncovered firearms and drugs, and separately mentions the Tallaght warrant search seizure matching case 21649.

  2. 27 Mar2023
    Reportedgarda.ie, first report
    Operation Thor - Three Firearms, Ammunition and €177,000 of Suspected Drugs Seized, Finglas, Dublin 11, Monday 27th March 2023

    Provides the specific make and model of each of the three firearms seized and breaks down the drug values into €92,000 cocaine and €85,000 cannabis. Confirms items were found in a barrel buried in the ground.