Ireland Case No. 2437Possession of controlled drugs (cannabis) for sale or supply, crime proceeds · Co. Dublin · 11 Oct 2024
Indian man jailed over cannabis possession in Dublin
On 11 October 2024, Gardaí seized 429 kilos of cannabis with a street value of €8.5 million at U Store It Self Storage, Ballymount, Dublin, after intercepting two vehicles. Four men were arrested: Raymond Hall, 58, a man; Onkar Singh, 45, an Indian man; Buta Ram, 52, a man; and Nicolae Onica, 31, a man. All four were charged with possession of cannabis for sale or supply under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Hall was sent for trial in January 2025, and Onkar Singh was sentenced at the Circuit Criminal Court in 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested16 Oct
- Charged14 Oct
- In court15 Oct
2 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced20 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Four men were charged in connection with the seizure of cannabis with a street value of €8.5 million.
- Gardaí seized 429 kilos of cannabis, reported as 426 kilos in some accounts, at a storage facility.
- Where
- The cannabis was found at U Store It Self Storage, M50 Business Park, Ballymount Road Upper, Dublin.
- When
- The four men were arrested on 11 October 2024.
- Investigation
- Gardaí intercepted two vehicles shortly after 3pm and carried out a planned search of the business premises.
- The operation was carried out by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Tallaght Drug Unit.
- Gardaí allege the seizure involved a transnational organised criminal group in which Onkar Singh was a trusted member.
- Charges
- The four men were charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and possession for the purpose of sale or supply under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
- Raymond Hall was additionally charged with possessing drugs worth more than €13,000 at the storage facility and having €54,499 in crime proceeds at his home.
- In court
- Onkar Singh and Buta Ram were refused bail at Dublin District Court, and Hall was sent for trial in January 2025.
- Sentence
- Onkar Singh was sentenced by Judge Sinead Ní Chúlacháin at the Circuit Criminal Court.
- Other details
- The four men made no reply when charged.
- A man with Dutch nationality was jailed for his role in a connected drug trafficking operation.
56 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)
- what426 kilogrammes of cannabis were seized at the storage facility. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man with Dutch nationality was jailed for his role in a drug trafficking operation. (gript.ie)
- whatThe case concerns a cannabis find valued at €8.5 million. (gript.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)
- whereThe headline places the cannabis find in Dublin. (gript.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)
- whenThe seizure took place on 11 October 2024. (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)
- investigationFour men were arrested in relation to the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe operation was uncovered by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau in October 2024. (gript.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)
- chargeRaymond Hall was charged with possessing drugs for sale or supply. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe was also charged with possessing drugs worth more than €13,000 at the storage facility. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe was charged with having €54,499 in crime proceeds at his home address. (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)
- courtHe appeared at Dublin District Court on 30 January 2025 and was served with a book of evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Aylmer granted a return-for-trial order sending him to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe DPP directed trial on indictment. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case is scheduled to be listed on 13 March 2025 alongside co-defendants. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHall has not yet entered a plea. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHis bail conditions include a €5,000 lodgement and a €30,000 independent surety. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe surrendered his passport and must not apply for new travel documents. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe is prohibited from contacting the co-defendants. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe must sign on three days a week at a local garda station. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe was granted free legal aid including senior counsel representation. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe appeared before the Circuit Criminal Court late last month. (gript.ie)
- sentenceHe was sentenced by Judge Sinead Ní Chúlacháin. (gript.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)
- otherThree other men from India, the Netherlands and Moldova are before the courts on connected charges. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defendants made no reply when charged at Crumlin and Rathfarnham Garda stations. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe judge said the reason for his involvement was unclear and out of character, based on references from family and friends. (gript.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Mar2026Indian man jailed over €8.5M cannabis find in Dublin - Gript
Reports the sentencing of Onkar Singh at the Circuit Criminal Court. The body text does not name the place of the find or the value; the headline gives Dublin and €8.5M. The court found his involvement out of character.
convicted, Onkar Singh, 46, male, Dutch, named, non-irishOnkar Singh - 30 Jan2025Man, 58, sent for trial after €8.5m cannabis seizure at storage unit
Details the return-for-trial order at Dublin District Court, bail conditions, and the DPP's direction for trial on indictment, with the case listed for 13 March 2025 alongside co-defendants.
accused, Raymond Hall, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)Raymond Hallaccused, male, non-irish (judged from name)accused, male, non-irish (judged from name)accused, male, non-irish (judged from name) - 16 Oct2024Multiple 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 - 15 Oct2024Four 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 - 14 Oct2024Four 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