Wednesday 28 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. 3388Possession of controlled drugs · Co. Kildare · 1 Apr 2026

Four arrested after €7 million cannabis seized in Athy, Co. Kildare

Gardaí seized cannabis with an estimated street value of approximately €7 million during a search of a property in Athy, Co. Kildare, on 1 April 2026 as part of Operation Tara. Four people – three men (two in their 30s, one in his 40s) and one woman in her 20s – were arrested at the scene and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested7 Apr
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court1 Apr
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
26 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThree men and a woman appeared in court in connection with cannabis worth an estimated €7m in Co Kildare (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOzdemier was arrested at Crookstown Upper where he had hidden in a ditch for more than three hours (irishtimes.com)
  • what350kg of cannabis was located in a shed at the property (irishtimes.com)
  • whatIn a follow-up search, gardaí found tubs of benzocaine, said to be a mixing agent (irishtimes.com)
  • whatForsyth made an admission about the shed being used to store cannabis and is the occupier of the address (irishtimes.com)
  • whatJohn Weekes was observed attempting to flee the scene and discard two phones while leaving (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA wallet with documents belonging to Weekes was found in a vehicle owned by Ozdemier (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCannabis with an estimated street value of approximately €7 million was seized. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatFour individuals were arrested at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe cannabis was found at Crookstown Upper, Ballitore, Co. Kildare (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe cannabis was recovered during a search of a property in Athy, Co. Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe alleged possession took place on 1 April 2026 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe planned searches were conducted on Wednesday, 1 April 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations into the matter are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe intelligence-led operation saw searches conducted at locations in Kildare and Carlow (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationAll four are detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Garda stations in the Eastern Region. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed and an incident room established at Carlow Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe seizure forms part of Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy launched by the Garda Commissioner in July 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe searches were conducted by Gardaí from the Kildare/Carlow Drugs Units, supported by the Kildare/Carlow Crime Functional Area and Eastern Regional Units. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe four adults arrested in connection with the investigation have been charged. (garda.ie)
  • courtThey are due to appear before a special sitting of Naas District Court on Friday 3 April 2026 at 6:00pm. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe four appeared at a late sitting of Naas District Court on Friday (irishtimes.com)
  • courtCorrigan was the only defendant granted bail subject to signing on conditions, providing a mobile phone number and surrendering her passport (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Desmond Zaidan upheld Garda objections to bail against the other three defendants (irishtimes.com)
  • courtAll four will appear in court again on 8 April 2026 (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Apr2026
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Major drugs bust as gardai seize €7m worth of cannabis

    Initial report of the €7 million cannabis seizure and four arrests in Athy, Co. Kildare, under Operation Tara.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, malesuspect, 20s, female
  2. 4 Apr2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Four in court charged over €7m cannabis seizure in Co Kildare

    Provides the names, ages and addresses of all four defendants, details of the Naas District Court appearance, defence arguments, bail decisions by Judge Desmond Zaidan, and the next court date of 8 April 2026.

    suspect, Emre Ozdemier, 29, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Emre Ozdemiersuspect, Alex Forsyth, 33, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Alex Forsythsuspect, John Weekes, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Weekessuspect, Alanna Corrigan, 29, female, named, irish (judged from name)Alanna Corrigan
  3. 1 Apr2026
    In courtgarda.ie, follow-up
    Court Appearance- Seizure of €7 Million Worth of Cannabis in County Kildare - 1st April 2026

    Confirms the four arrested have been charged and are due before a special sitting of Naas District Court on 3 April 2026 at 6:00pm; investigations are ongoing.

    suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, female