Saturday 31 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. 21276Organised crime · Co. Dublin · 3 May 2023

Four arrested after searches in Tallaght organised crime investigation

On Wednesday 3 May 2023, Gardaí searched properties in Tallaght, Dublin 24, as part of an organised crime investigation and arrested four people: three men, two in their 20s and one in his 50s, and a woman in her 40s. Gardaí reported seizures of cannabis herb, cash and a BMW 320 car, and the sources give differing figures for the drugs and cash seized. In a 4 May 2023 update, two men aged in their 20s and 50s were charged with drugs-related offences and are expected to appear before the courts in the coming weeks, while a woman and a man in his 20s were released without charge. Investigations are ongoing and files are to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested3 May
    3 reports
  3. Charged3 May
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Four people were arrested by Gardaí as part of ongoing investigations into organised criminal activity in Tallaght.
  • The four arrested were three men, two in their 20s and one in his 50s, and a woman in her 40s.
  • One account reports cannabis herb worth about €10,000 and €5,000 in cash were seized, while another reports 50 cannabis plants worth about €40,000, a further €40,000 of cannabis herb and about €2,155 in cash were seized.
  • A registered BMW 320 car was seized during the searches.
  • Cannabis cultivation equipment, including lighting, heating, ventilation and irrigation systems, was found during one search.
Where
One account says five residential properties were searched in the Dublin 24 area of Tallaght, while a Garda press release says a premises in West Tallaght was searched.
When
The searches took place on Wednesday 3 May 2023, with one account saying they were in the morning and another saying the search was shortly after 4pm.
Weapon
About 50 shotgun cartridges were seized and will be sent for analysis.
Investigation
  • The searches followed recent enquiries led by Detectives from the Tallaght District, and one account describes them as the result of an extensive Dublin Crime Response Team investigation into an organised crime group.
  • Investigations are ongoing, with files to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and further updates to follow.
Other details
  • A Garda account says a man in his late 40s was arrested at the scene and a man in his late 30s was arrested after a follow-up search in Clondalkin.
  • The four people were initially detained at Garda stations in south west Dublin under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.
  • A woman and a man in his 20s were released without charge, and all four have been released from Garda custody.
Charges
Two men, aged in their 20s and 50s, have been charged with drugs-related offences.
In court
The two men charged are expected to appear before the courts in the coming weeks.
34 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatFour people were arrested by Gardaí as part of ongoing investigations into organised criminal activity in Tallaght. (garda.ie)
  • whatThree males, two in their 20s and one in his 50s, and one female in her 40s were arrested. (garda.ie)
  • what50 suspected cannabis plants worth about €40,000 were seized. (garda.ie)
  • whatA further €40,000 of suspected cannabis herb was seized. (garda.ie)
  • whatAbout €2,155 in cash was seized. (garda.ie)
  • whatAbout 50 shotgun cartridges were seized. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe searches were in the Dublin 24 area of Tallaght. (rte.ie)
  • whereFive residential properties were searched in the Dublin 24 area. (garda.ie)
  • whereGardaí searched a premises in West Tallaght. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe arrests took place in the Tallaght area. (garda.ie)
  • whenSearches of five houses in Dublin 24 took place on the morning of 3 May 2023. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe searches took place on Wednesday 3 May 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe search took place shortly after 4pm on Wednesday 3 May 2023. (garda.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said cannabis herb worth €10,000 was recovered during the search operation. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said €5,000 in cash was recovered during the search operation. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe searches followed recent enquiries led by Detectives from the Tallaght District. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing and further updates will follow. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe search was the result of an extensive investigation by the Dublin Crime Response Team into an organised crime group. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe seized drugs and shotgun cartridges will be sent for analysis. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing and files will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (garda.ie)
  • chargeTwo males have been charged with drugs-related offences. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe two charged males are expected to appear before the courts in the coming weeks. (garda.ie)
  • otherFour people were arrested as part of an investigation into organised crime in Tallaght. (rte.ie)
  • otherA BMW 320 car was seized. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe four people, three men and a woman, are being questioned at Garda stations in south west Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • otherCannabis herb worth €10,000 was seized, with analysis pending. (garda.ie)
  • other€5,000 in cash and a registered BMW 320 car were seized. (garda.ie)
  • otherAll four are detained at Garda Stations in south west Dublin under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. (garda.ie)
  • otherCultivation equipment such as lighting, heating, ventilation and irrigation systems was found. (garda.ie)
  • otherA man in his late 40s was arrested at the scene and taken to a Garda station in south Dublin. (garda.ie)
  • otherA follow-up search in the Clondalkin area recovered cash, and a man in his late 30s was arrested. (garda.ie)
  • otherGarda investigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe four people arrested have been released from Garda custody. (garda.ie)
  • otherA female and a male aged in their 20s were released without charge. (garda.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 May2023
    Chargedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Update - Arrest Operation Targeting Organised Crime in Tallaght – 3rd May 2023

    Two males charged with drugs-related offences and expected to appear in court; a female and a male released without charge; investigations ongoing and files to be prepared for the DPP.

    accused, maleaccused, malesuspect, 20s, femalesuspect, 20s, male
  2. 3 May2023
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Operation Tara - Suspected Cannabis Growhouse Discovered, €80,000 Cannabis Seized Along with Shotgun Cartridges and Cash, Two Persons Arrested, Dublin 24, Wednesday 3rd May 2023

    Garda press release. Adds the search location, seized items and the arrest of two men, one in his late 40s and one in his late 30s. The seized drugs and cartridges are being sent for analysis.

    suspect, late 40s, malesuspect, late 30s, male
  3. 3 May2023
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Arrest Operation Targeting Organised Crime in Tallaght – 3rd May 2023

    Official garda.ie press release that matches the existing case. It adds the ages and sexes of the four arrested people, the detention under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007, the seizure of €10,000 of cannabis herb, €5,000 cash and a BMW 320 car, and the statement that investigations are ongoing.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 50s, malesuspect, 40s, female
  4. 3 May2023
    Arrestedrte.ie, first report
    Four arrested after search operation in Tallaght

    Reports the arrest of four people (three men and a woman) after searches of five houses in Tallaght, plus the seizures of cannabis, cash and a car. The article gives no names, ages or nationalities.

    suspectsuspectsuspectsuspect