Ireland Jamie Long, 26, refused bail over €1.5m cocaine and cannabis seizure in Limerick
Jamie Long, 26, was refused bail at Limerick District Court on 28 February 2026 after being charged with possession of 11kg of cocaine and 35kg of cannabis worth approximately €1.5 million, allegedly seized from two Ford transit vans connected to him in Limerick. Gardaí told the court he is an integral part of an organised crime group supplying wholesale drugs in the Southern region.
- Reported26 Feb
- Arrested25 Feb
3 reports - Chargednot reported
- In court25 Feb
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports65 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí conducted an intelligence-led operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in Limerick city. (garda.ie)
- whatGardaí stopped a vehicle in Limerick city and searched it. (garda.ie)
- whatSuspected cocaine worth an estimated €70,000 was found in the first vehicle. (garda.ie)
- whatThe driver, a male in his 20s, was arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking Act) 1996. (garda.ie)
- whatGardaí obtained warrants and searched a second vehicle and a domestic residence. (garda.ie)
- what35 kilograms of suspected cannabis and 11 kilograms of suspected cocaine were found during the warrant searches. (garda.ie)
- whatThe estimated value of the cannabis and cocaine seizures are €700,000 and €770,000 respectively. (garda.ie)
- whatThe total value of the three seizures is €1.54 million. (garda.ie)
- whatGardaí recovered more than €1.5 million worth of drugs in a major operation targeting a drug gang in Limerick. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAn estimated €70,000 worth of cocaine was recovered from the stopped vehicle. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAn estimated €800,000 worth of cocaine was recovered from the vehicle at Old Cratloe Road. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAn estimated €700,000 worth of cannabis was recovered from the vehicle at Old Cratloe Road. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí seized more than €1.5 million worth of drugs after three searches in Limerick (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAround €70,000 worth of cocaine was found in a car in the city centre (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe driver was a man in his 20s (irishmirror.ie)
- what35kg of suspected cannabis and 11kg of suspected cocaine were found in follow-up searches (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe cannabis was valued at €700,000 and the cocaine at €770,000 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAll three seizures were valued at €1.54 million in total (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí seized over €1.5m worth of cannabis and cocaine (corkbeo.ie)
- whatAn arrest was made after a vehicle stop and search and a follow-up raid of a house in the city (corkbeo.ie)
- whatUp to 11 kilograms of cocaine were found packed in compostable bags (corkbeo.ie)
- whatGardaí stopped a vehicle in the city and found suspected cocaine worth an estimated €70,000 (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe driver was a male aged in his 20s (corkbeo.ie)
- what35 kilograms of suspected cannabis and 11 kilograms of suspected cocaine were found in the second searches (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe estimated value of the cannabis and cocaine seizures was €700,000 and €770,000 respectively (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe total value of the three seizures was €1.54 million (corkbeo.ie)
- whatLong tore up the charges and threw them in a toilet bowl (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe first van contained cocaine valued at €70,000 (irishtimes.com)
- whatA second van at Long's home contained about €800,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis valued at €700,000 (irishtimes.com)
- whatLong did not reply to the charges when read to him (irishtimes.com)
- whatLong admitted he was under duress to store and deliver drugs to pay off a drug debt in excess of €50,000 (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatLong stated he is addicted to cannabis and cocaine (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatLong is described as an integral part of an organised crime group supplying drugs in the Limerick region (irishtimes.com)
- whatLong was found in possession of a key to the second van at the time of arrest (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe was in possession of €70,000 worth of cocaine at the time of arrest. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe second van contained 11kg of cocaine and 35kg of cannabis valued at around €1.5 million. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatLong tore up the charges and threw them into a toilet bowl. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí believe Long is an integral part of an organised crime group supplying wholesale amounts of drugs into the Southern region. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatLong admitted he was to deliver the €70,000 of cocaine to an unnamed person. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatLong stated his DNA will be found on every individual pack of cannabis and cocaine seized from the vehicle. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatLong did not own a passport. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatLong has a partner who is pregnant. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereA follow-up search was conducted at a parked vehicle on Old Cratloe Road. (irishtimes.com)
- whereLong was arrested at Kilbranish Drive, Woodview, Limerick (irishtimes.com)
- whereLong was arrested in the front seat of a white Ford transit van at Kilbranish Drive, Woodview, Limerick. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe operation took place on Wednesday 25 February 2026. (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- whenGardaí stopped a car in the Caherdavin area at about 5pm. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe arrest took place on Wednesday 25 February 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe man was taken to a Limerick Garda Station and quizzed by detectives (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe Limerick Divisional Drug Unit obtained warrants and searched another car and a house (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe Limerick Divisional Drug Unit, supported by Regional Units based in Limerick, conducted the operation (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationGardaí obtained warrants to search a second vehicle and a domestic residence (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationLong was interviewed on eight occasions and made admissions to being a courier and storing drugs (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe male in his 20s arrested in connection with the investigation has been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeThe driver was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking Act) 1996 (corkbeo.ie)
- chargeLong was charged with three counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply and three counts of possession of drugs for his own use (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe is due to appear before a special sitting of Limerick District Court on 28 February 2026 at 12pm. (garda.ie)
- courtLong was remanded to appear before Limerick District Court via video-link on 3 March (irishtimes.com)
- courtLong appeared before a special weekend sitting of Limerick District Court on 28 February 2026 and was refused bail by Judge Patricia Ryan. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe was remanded in custody to appear before Limerick District Court via video-link on 3 March. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe seizure was worth €1.54 million and was carried out under Operation Tara in Limerick City. (garda.ie)
- otherA 26-year-old man was arrested as part of the investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- otherLong's solicitor said he did not have a passport (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 28 Feb2026Man charged with €1.5m drugs haul threw charges in 'toilet', court hears
Bail hearing details: Long tore up his charges and threw them in a toilet; Gardaí described him as a courier in an organised crime group with a drug debt exceeding €50,000; he was remanded to appear via video-link on 3 March 2026.
accused, Jamie Long, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jamie Long - 28 Feb2026Limerick man charged over €1.5m cocaine and cannabis seizures is refused bail
Bail hearing details: Long tore up the charges and threw them in a toilet bowl, admitted being a courier under duress to pay a drug debt over €50,000, and was remanded to appear via video-link on 3 March.
accused, Jamie Long, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jamie Long - 27 Feb2026Huge €1.54m hash and cocaine haul after Gardai pull over car in Limerick
Provides operational detail on the Limerick Divisional Drug Unit's intelligence-led operation, including the sequence of the vehicle stop, the three separate seizures (€70,000 cocaine from the first vehicle, 35kg cannabis and 11kg cocaine from a second vehicle and residence), the use of compostable bags for the cocaine, and the legal basis for detention under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking Act) 1996.
suspect, 20s, male - 26 Feb2026Gardai seize more than €1.5million worth of drugs after three searches
Provides detail on the sequence of three searches: initial car search in city centre yielding €70,000 cocaine, followed by warrant searches of another car and a house yielding 35kg cannabis and 11kg cocaine, totalling €1.54m.
suspect, 20s, male - 25 Feb2026Man arrested after €1.5m cannabis and cocaine seizure in Limerick
Initial report of the seizure and arrest, providing details of the two locations where drugs were recovered (Caherdavin and Old Cratloe Road) and confirming the Limerick DDU led the operation.
suspect, 26, male - 25 Feb2026Operation Tara: Seizure of €1.54 Million Worth of Drugs, 1 Arrest, Limerick city- 25th February 2026
Official Garda press release confirming the specific quantities (11kg cocaine, 35kg cannabis), individual values (€70,000, €700,000, €770,000) and total (€1.54 million) of the Operation Tara seizure, and noting the driver was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking Act) 1996.
suspect, 20s, male - 25 Feb2026Update – Court Appearance: Operation Tara, Seizure of €1.54 Million Worth of Drugs, 1 Arrest, Limerick City - 25th February 2026
Confirms the man in his 20s has been charged and is due to appear before a special sitting of Limerick District Court on 28 February 2026 at 12pm.
suspect, 20s, male