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. 5697Drug trafficking · Co. Dublin

Gold bullion seized from Kazakhstani drug gang to be auctioned in Dublin

Gold bullion valued at €1.4 million, 18kg of gold bars and coins, €460,000 in cash, and cocaine and ecstasy valued at about €210,000 were seized in intelligence-led searches in Lucan, Dundrum and Ballsbridge in Dublin in September 2024. Farhats Bahtijevs, a 55-year-old Kazakhstani man, was arrested and appeared in court in 2024, and was granted bail before he absconded and is believed to have returned to Kazakhstan. Svethana Bahtijeva, 39, and Jelene Idele, 59, were charged with possessing the proceeds of crime, and Bahtijeva was jailed for five years after pleading guilty, while the sources differ on whether Idele's four-year sentence was suspended or she was jailed. An online auction of the gold by Wilsons Auctions on behalf of the Garda opened at 1pm on Friday and closes at 1pm on Monday, with net proceeds to be returned to the State.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced17 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gold bullion valued at €1.4 million was seized from a Kazakhstani drugs gang operating in Ireland.
  • Gardaí also found €460,000 in cash and cocaine and ecstasy valued at about €210,000 during the operation.
Where
Gold bars and coins weighing 18kg were found at a business premises, and the drugs were found during a search of a residential property.
When
The searches took place in September 2024 at locations in Lucan, Dundrum and Ballsbridge, all in Dublin.
Cause
The gold, high-value coins and cash were alleged to be proceeds of drug dealing in the Republic.
Investigation
The gold was seized during intelligence-led searches in Dublin in 2024 by the Dublin Crime Response Team.
Charges
  • Farhats Bahtijevs was charged with three counts of money laundering, three counts relating to false documents, and four counts of possessing ecstasy and cocaine, including for sale or supply.
  • Svethana Bahtijeva and Jelene Idele were charged with possessing the proceeds of crime.
In court
Farhats Bahtijevs was granted bail mainly to care for the two children he had with his wife, then skipped bail and is believed to have returned to Kazakhstan.
Sentence
  • After pleading guilty, Svethana Bahtijeva was jailed for five years.
  • Jelene Idele was given a four-year sentence, which one source says was suspended and another says she was jailed.
Other details
  • The gold and other items were kept in safety deposit boxes and safes controlled by Bahtijeva and her mother, both from Latvia.
  • The main suspect told gardaí he took responsibility for the drugs, and the court accepted that the marriage was over and neither woman had contact with him after he fled.
  • The main player in the group is on the run facing 10 charges in the Republic.
  • An online auction run by Wilsons Auctions on behalf of the Garda opened at 1pm on Friday and closes at 1pm on Monday, with bids accepted only from the public online.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGold bullion valued at €1.4 million was seized from a Kazakhstani drugs gang operating in Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDuring the operation, gardaí also found €460,000 in cash and cocaine and ecstasy valued at about €210,000. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGold bars and coins weighing 18kg were found at a business premises. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe finds were made during searches in September 2024 at locations in Lucan, Dundrum and Ballsbridge, all in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe drugs were discovered during the search of a residential property. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe gold bullion, high-value coins and cash were alleged to be proceeds of drug dealing in the Republic. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe gold was seized during intelligence-led searches in Dublin in 2024 by the Dublin Crime Response Team. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeBahtijevs faced three charges of money laundering, three charges relating to false documents, and four charges of possessing ecstasy and cocaine including for sale or supply. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeSvethana Bahtijeva and Jelene Idele were charged with possessing the proceeds of crime. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceAfter pleading guilty, Svethana Bahtijeva was jailed for five years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJelene Idele was given a four-year sentence, which was suspended. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe main player in the group absconded when bailed and is on the run facing 10 charges in the Republic. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAn online auction run by Wilsons Auctions on behalf of the Garda opened at 1pm on Friday and closes at 1pm on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe net proceeds of the sale will be returned to the State. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFarhats Bahtijevs, then aged 55 and living in Lucan, was arrested and appeared in court in 2024. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBahtijevs told gardaí he took responsibility for the drugs. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe gold and other items were in safety deposit boxes and safes controlled by his wife and her mother, both from Latvia. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBahtijevs was granted bail mainly to care for the two children he had with his wife, then skipped bail and is believed to have returned to Kazakhstan. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBahtijeva met her husband in Ireland after coming to the country aged 19. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe court accepted the marriage between Bahtijeva and Bahtijevs was over and neither woman had contact with him after he fled. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Apr2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Garda auctions €1.4m gold bullion seized from Kazakhstani drug gang in Dublin

    Reports the online auction of €1.4m gold bullion and 18kg of gold bars and coins seized in September 2024, along with background on the 10 charges against the main suspect, the guilty pleas and sentences of his wife and mother-in-law, and the main suspect's continued flight believed to be in Kazakhstan.

    suspect, Farhats Bahtijevs, 55, male, Kazakhstani, named, non-irishFarhats Bahtijevsconvicted, Svethana Bahtijeva, 39, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Svethana Bahtijevaconvicted, Jelene Idele, 59, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Jelene Idele