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

Four charged over €7m cannabis seizure appear at Naas District Court

On 1 April 2026, gardaí seized 350kg of cannabis with an estimated street value of approximately €7 million from a property at Crookstown Upper, Ballitore, Co. Kildare, as part of Operation Tara. Four people were arrested at the scene: Emre Ozdemier, 29, a man; Alex Forsyth, 33, a man; John Weekes, 38, a man; and Alanna Corrigan, 29, a woman. All four were charged with possessing cannabis and possessing it for sale or supply. They appeared at a special late sitting of Naas District Court on 3 April 2026, where Corrigan was granted bail subject to conditions and the other three were denied bail. All four are due back in court on 8 April 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested1 Apr
    4 reports
  3. Charged1 Apr
  4. In court1 Apr
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
350kg of cannabis with an estimated street value of approximately €7 million was seized from a property.
Where
The cannabis was found at a property at Crookstown Upper, Ballitore, Co. Kildare, though some reports describe the search location as Athy.
When
The planned searches were carried out on Wednesday, 1 April 2026.
Cause
The seizure was part of ongoing investigations under Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy.
Investigation
  • Four people were arrested at the scene and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Garda stations in the Eastern Region.
  • A Senior Investigating Officer was appointed and an incident room set up at Carlow Garda Station.
  • In a follow-up search, tubs of benzocaine, described as a mixing agent, were found.
  • Ozdemier was arrested at Crookstown Upper after hiding in a ditch for more than three hours, and Forsyth allegedly admitted the shed was used to store cannabis and that he is the occupier of the address.
Charges
The four were charged with possessing cannabis and possessing it for sale or supply.
In court
  • The four appeared at a special late sitting of Naas District Court on 3 April 2026.
  • Judge Desmond Zaidan granted bail to Corrigan subject to conditions and upheld garda objections to bail for the other three defendants.
  • All four are due back in court on 8 April 2026.
Other details
The seized drugs were sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
70 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí seized cannabis valued at €7 million. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatCannabis with an estimated street value of €7 million was found at a single property in Athy. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatGardaí recovered cannabis with an estimated street value of €7 million. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatGardaí recovered cannabis with an estimated street value of about €7 million. (gript.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized a suspected drugs haul estimated at €7 million following a search operation in County Kildare. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatGardaí recovered cannabis with an estimated street value of approximately €7 million. (kildarenow.com)
  • 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)
  • whereThe cannabis was found at a property in Athy. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe cannabis was recovered during a search of a property in Athy. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereGardaí searched a property in Athy. (gript.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • whereThe cannabis was found at Crookstown Upper, Ballitore, Co. Kildare (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe cannabis find was in south Kildare. (kildarenow.com)
  • whereThe cannabis was recovered during a search of a property in Athy, Co. Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenSearches were carried out the day before the article was published. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe searches were carried out the day before the article was published. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe searches were carried out in County Kildare on Wednesday 1 April 2026. (gript.ie)
  • whenThe searches were carried out on Wednesday, 1 April. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe alleged possession took place on 1 April 2026 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged offences took place on April 1. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe planned searches were conducted on Wednesday, 1 April 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations into the matter are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe seizure was part of ongoing investigations under Operation Tara. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationFour individuals were arrested at the scene. (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (thejournal.ie, gript.ie, kildarenow.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed and an incident room set up at Carlow Garda Station. (thejournal.ie, gript.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • investigationThe searches were part of ongoing investigations under Operation Tara. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • investigationA Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed and an incident room has been set up at Carlow Garda Station. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said investigations are ongoing. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe drugs were found as part of ongoing investigations under Operation Tara. (gript.ie)
  • investigationFour people were arrested at the scene. (gript.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • investigationThe four arrested people were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (gript.ie)
  • investigationThe intelligence-led operation saw searches conducted at locations in Kildare and Carlow (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationEmre Ozdemier had hidden in a ditch for over three hours before being found. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationThe cannabis was found in a shed at the property. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationAbout 350 kilos of cannabis herb was found. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationTubs of benzocaine, described as a mixing agent, were found in a follow-up search. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationDigital scales were found at Emre Ozdemier's address. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationAlex Forsyth allegedly admitted the shed was used to store cannabis and that he is the occupier of the address. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationSearches were carried out at locations in Kildare and Carlow. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationJohn Weekes was observed attempting to flee the scene. (kildarenow.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)
  • 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)
  • chargeFour people arrested after the seizure have been charged. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe four face allegations of possessing cannabis and possessing it for sale or supply. (kildarenow.com)
  • 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 are due to appear before a special sitting of Naas District Court. (thejournal.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)
  • courtThe initial hearing was at a special late sitting of Naas District Court. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtAlanna Corrigan was the only defendant granted bail, subject to conditions. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe judge upheld garda objections to bail for the other three defendants. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtAll four are due back in court on April 8. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherAll four are detained at garda stations in the east. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe four arrested were three men, two in their 30s and one in his 40s, and one woman in her 20s. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • otherAll four were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at garda stations in the Eastern Region. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherEmre Ozdemier was arrested at Crookstown Upper. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherAlex Forsyth was arrested. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe defence said Emre Ozdemier uses cannabis to ease pain from a work accident. (kildarenow.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. 6 Apr2026
    In courtkildarenow.com, first report
    BREAKING: Three men and a woman in late night court sitting after €7m cannabis find in Kildare

    First court appearance of four defendants over the alleged €7m cannabis find; bail outcomes and the next court date of 8 April are reported.

    accused, Emre Ozdemier, 29, male, namedEmre Ozdemieraccused, Alex Forsyth, 33, male, namedAlex Forsythaccused, John Weekes, 38, male, namedJohn Weekesaccused, Alanna Corrigan, 29, female, named, irish (judged from name)Alanna Corrigan
  3. 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
  4. 2 Apr2026
    Arrestedkildarenow.com, follow-up
    BREAKING: Arrests made after gardaí seize suspected drugs haul worth an estimated €7 million

    Reports the initial arrests of four people after a search of a property in Athy. The case was logged as Crookstown Upper, Ballitore, but this article gives Athy as the search location. It adds that a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed and an incident room set up at Carlow Garda Station.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, malesuspect, 20s, female
  5. 2 Apr2026
    Arrestedgript.ie, follow-up
    Gardaí seize €7m worth of cannabis - Gript

    Gript reports the property was in Athy, while the existing record says Ballitore. It adds that the four arrested are detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996, the drugs will go to Forensic Science Ireland, and a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed with an incident room at Carlow Garda Station. It names no suspects and does not mention charges.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, malesuspect, 20s, female
  6. 1 Apr2026
    Arrestedthejournal.ie, first report
    Four arrests made after gardaí seize €7 million worth of cannabis from Kildare property

    First report of the Athy cannabis seizure and four arrests, with the day of the searches given only as 'yesterday' relative to the article date.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, malesuspect, 20s, female
  7. 1 Apr2026
    Chargedthejournal.ie, first report
    Four charged and due in court after gardaí seizure of €7 million worth of cannabis from Kildare

    First report of the Athy cannabis seizure: four people charged, court appearance at Naas District Court, and drugs sent for analysis.

    accused, maleaccused, maleaccused, maleaccused, 20s, female
  8. 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