Ireland Case No. 3388Possession of controlled drugs · Co. Kildare · 1 Apr 2026
Four sent for trial over €7m cannabis possession in Kildare
Gardaí seized 350kg of cannabis with an estimated street value of €7 million during a search of a property in Athy, Co Kildare, on 1 April 2026. 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 Naas District Court on 3 April 2026, where Corrigan was granted bail and the other three were remanded. In October 2026, all four were sent for trial to Naas Circuit Court.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested1 Apr
4 reports - Charged1 Apr
- In court1 Apr
4 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí seized 350kg of cannabis with an estimated street value of €7 million during a search of a property in Athy, Co Kildare.
- Emre Ozdemier was found hidden in a ditch at the property after more than three hours.
- Tubs of benzocaine, described as a mixing agent, were found in a follow-up search.
- Where
- The property is in Athy, Co Kildare, though some reports identify the location as Crookstown Upper, Ballitore.
- When
- The searches were carried out on Wednesday, 1 April 2026.
- Investigation
- The seizure was part of ongoing investigations under Operation Tara, conducted by Gardaí from the Kildare/Carlow Drugs Units.
- Four people were arrested at the scene and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
- Charges
- All four were charged with possessing cannabis and possessing it for sale or supply.
- In court
- The four appeared at a special sitting of Naas District Court on 3 April 2026, where Judge Desmond Zaidan granted bail to Alanna Corrigan and remanded the other three.
- In October 2026, all four were sent for trial to Naas Circuit Court.
- Other details
- Alex Forsyth is the occupier of the address and made an admission that the shed was used to store cannabis.
- John Weekes was observed attempting to flee the scene and discard two phones.
90 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)
- whatEmre Ozdemier, 29, has an address at 23 Burrin Street, Carlow. (kildarenow.com)
- whatAlex Forsyth, 33, has an address at 12 Dunedin Terrace, Monkstown Farm, Dublin. (kildarenow.com)
- whatJohn Weekes, 39, has an address at Branswood, Athy. (kildarenow.com)
- whatAlanna Corrigan, 30, has an address at Crookstown Upper, Ballitore, Co Kildare. (kildarenow.com)
- whatOzdemier was arrested at Crookstown Upper and had hidden in a ditch for over three hours. (kildarenow.com)
- whatOzdemier was found in a deep dyke at the back of the property. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe cannabis was located in a shed at the property. (kildarenow.com)
- whatSome 350 kilos of cannabis herb was found. (kildarenow.com)
- whatTubs of benzocaine, a mixing agent, were found in a follow-up search. (kildarenow.com)
- whatOzdemier's wife is living and working in Morocco as an air hostess. (kildarenow.com)
- whatForsyth made an admission about the shed being used to store cannabis. (kildarenow.com)
- whatForsyth is the occupier of the address. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe intelligence-led operation involved searches at locations in Kildare and Carlow. (kildarenow.com)
- whatSome €20,000 worth of cannabis was found in a coal bunker. (kildarenow.com)
- whatForsyth is described as a self-confessed drug user. (kildarenow.com)
- whatSolicitor David Powderly described Forsyth as a mule on the lowest rung of the ladder who only supplied four walls and a roof for storage. (kildarenow.com)
- whatWeekes was observed attempting to flee the scene and attempted to discard two phones. (kildarenow.com)
- 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)
- courtFour people were sent for trial from Naas District Court. (kildarenow.com)
- courtThe case will be heard at Naas Circuit Court. (kildarenow.com)
- courtThe four first appeared before Naas District Court in early April. (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- 22 Oct2026Four are sent for trial over €7m Kildare drug find
Reports the Naas District Court hearing where the four defendants were sent for trial to Naas Circuit Court, with details of the prosecution evidence, defence submissions, and bail conditions.
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, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Weekessuspect, Alanna Corrigan, 30, female, named, irish (judged from name)Alanna Corrigan - 7 Apr2026Major 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 - 6 Apr2026BREAKING: 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 - 4 Apr2026Four 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 - 2 Apr2026BREAKING: 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 - 2 Apr2026Gardaí 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 - 1 Apr2026Four 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 - 1 Apr2026Four 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 - 1 Apr2026Court 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