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. 4946Drug trafficking (cannabis) · Co. Dublin

Four arrested after €8.5m cannabis seizure in Ballymount, Dublin

Gardaí seized 429 kilos of cannabis with a street value of €8.5 million in the Ballymount area of Dublin after intercepting two vehicles and searching a business premises. Four men aged 31, 45, 52 and 58 were arrested and detained at Garda stations.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested16 Oct
  3. Charged14 Oct
  4. In court15 Oct
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
31 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatFour men were charged in connection with the seizure of €8.5 million worth of drugs. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe four men are aged 31, 45, 52 and 58. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatGardaí found 429 kilos of cannabis with a street value of €8.5 million. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatGardaí allegedly found €8.5m worth of suspected cannabis at a storage lock-up in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized 429 kilos of cannabis with a street value of €8.5 million. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe search took place at a business premises in Ballymount, Tallaght. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe cannabis was found at U Store It Self Storage, M50 Business Park, Ballymount Road Upper. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe cannabis was seized in the Ballymount area of Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe men were arrested on 11 October 2024. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe four men were arrested on Friday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenGardaí intercepted two vehicles shortly after 3pm on a Friday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí intercepted two vehicles and carried out a planned search of a business premises. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationDetectives with the GNDOCB allegedly uncovered 426kg of cannabis at the storage unit. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí allege Onkar Singh and Buta Ram took delivery of 24 pallets and loaded seven boxes into a van before arrest. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí allege Nicolae Onica arrived in a Ford Transit van and Raymond Hall arrived in a car and watched the area. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí allege the seizure involved a transnational organised criminal group in which Onkar Singh was a trusted member. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe operation was carried out by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Tallaght Drug Unit. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe cannabis was seized during a planned search of a business premises. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe four men were charged with unlawful possession of the suspected cannabis and possession for the purpose of sale or supply, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeFour men aged 31, 45, 52 and 58 were arrested under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe four men are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin, Court No. 3, at 10:30am. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtThe four men appeared at Dublin District Court on Monday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtRaymond Hall made no bail application. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Cheatle refused bail to Onkar Singh and Buta Ram due to the seriousness of the charges and their lack of ties to the state. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe storage unit was allegedly rented by a transnational organised crime group for onward distribution of drugs. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe four men made no reply when charged. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherDefence counsel said Nicolae Onica had applied for van driving work through an app. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe court heard that Onkar Singh and Buta Ram had no prior convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe four men are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007 at Garda stations in the Dublin Region. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe seizure forms part of Operation Tara, a national anti-drugs strategy. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 Oct2024
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Multiple arrests after seizure of huge haul of cannabis worth over €8.5 million

    First report of the seizure and arrests; the article does not give the exact date of the Friday operation.

    suspect, 31, malesuspect, 45, malesuspect, 52, malesuspect, 58, male
  2. 15 Oct2024
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Four appear in court over seizure of €8.5m of suspected cannabis

    First report of the four men's court appearance and bail hearing at Dublin District Court. Adds the names, ages and origins of the accused, the bail refusal for Onkar Singh and Buta Ram, and the alleged transnational organised crime link.

    accused, Raymond Hall, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)Raymond Hallaccused, Onkar Singh, 45, male, Indian, named, non-irishOnkar Singhaccused, Buta Ram, 52, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Buta Ramaccused, Nicolae Onica, 31, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Nicolae Onica
  3. 14 Oct2024
    Chargeddublinlive.ie, first report
    Four men to appear in court in connection with €8.5m cannabis seizure

    First report of the four men being charged in connection with the 429kg cannabis seizure in Ballymount, Tallaght.

    suspect, 31, malesuspect, 45, malesuspect, 52, malesuspect, 58, male