Thursday 29 October 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. 7244Illegal fireworks and cocaine possession · Co. Limerick · 28 Oct 2023

Fireworks, cocaine and pepper spray seized in Limerick ahead of Halloween

On 28 October 2023, gardaí searched a premises in Limerick as part of Operation Tombola, a campaign against the supply of illegal fireworks ahead of Halloween. They seized fireworks worth around €2,500, a canister of pepper spray and around €700 of cocaine. Two men were arrested in connection with the seizure and were later released without charge. A file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested29 Oct
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí seized illegal fireworks worth around €2,500 during a search of a premises.
  • Gardaí seized around €700 of cocaine during the same raid.
Weapon
A canister of pepper spray was seized during the raid.
Where
The search took place at a premises in Limerick.
When
The raid took place on 28 October 2023, ahead of Halloween.
Investigation
  • The raid was part of Operation Tombola, which began earlier in October and targets the supply of illegal fireworks.
  • Two men were arrested in connection with the seizure.
  • A file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Charges
The two men were released without charge, pending a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí seized fireworks worth €2,500 following a search of a premises. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatPepper spray and €700 of cocaine were also found during the raid. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized around €2,500 of illegal fireworks. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized around €700 of cocaine. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereThe seizure took place in Limerick. (irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
  • whenThe raid was carried out ahead of Halloween. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe seizure took place the day before the article was published. (corkbeo.ie)
  • weaponA canister of pepper spray was among the items seized. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationThe raid was part of Operation Tombola. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationTwo men were arrested in connection with the seizure and later released without charge. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe seizure was part of Operation Tombola. (corkbeo.ie)
  • investigationOperation Tombola began earlier in October and targets the supply of illegal fireworks. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherTwo men were arrested. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherThe two men were later released without charge, pending a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions. (corkbeo.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Oct2023
    Arrestedcorkbeo.ie, first report
    Fireworks, cocaine and weapon seized by Gardai in Limerick ahead of Halloween

    Reports a Limerick seizure of fireworks, cocaine and pepper spray on 28 October 2023, that two men were arrested and released without charge, and that a file is going to the DPP.

    suspect, malesuspect, male
  2. 28 Oct2023
    Otheririshmirror.ie, follow-up
    Gardaí seize €2,500 stash of illegal fireworks ahead of Halloween

    Original report of the Limerick search as part of Operation Tombola. The two men arrested were released without charge and a file has gone to the DPP. The article also mentions a separate Sligo seizure and a Roscrea seizure, which are not part of this case.

    suspect, malesuspect, male