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. 0628Possession of controlled drugs · Co. Longford · 2 Jul 2026

Longford drug possession suspect granted travel permission for wedding

Brothers Qasim Rasool, 31, and Ahsan Rasool, both Irish-Pakistani men from Edgeworthstown, Longford, were arrested in Mayo and Longford after a joint Gardaí and Revenue operation under Operation Tara seized cannabis vapes, edibles and reefer cigarettes containing HHC and THC worth an estimated €2 million from premises in Castlebar, Longford, Drogheda and Carlow on 2 and 8 July 2026. Both men were charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of sale or supply and possession of a controlled drug, and appeared before a special sitting of Longford District Court on 10 July 2026, where Judge Connellan granted each bail. On 15 October 2026, Judge Bernadette Owens granted Ahsan Rasool permission to vary his bail conditions to travel to the UK and Pakistan for a family wedding, with his next court date set for 3 November 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested9 Jul
    2 reports
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court10 Jul
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí and Revenue seized cannabis vapes, edibles and reefer cigarettes containing HHC and THC worth an estimated €2 million from five business premises and two houses.
Where
The searches targeted Candy Cloud vape shops in Longford, Mayo, Louth and Carlow, including a warehouse in Townspark Industrial Estate, Longford.
When
The searches were conducted on 2 and 8 July 2026.
Cause
The operation followed gardaí becoming aware of retail premises including vaping shops selling illegal cannabis products.
Investigation
The operation was a joint Gardaí and Revenue operation under Operation Tara, involving the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and Customs Revenue Service.
Charges
Brothers Qasim Rasool, 31, and Ahsan Rasool, both Irish-Pakistani men from Edgeworthstown, Longford, were charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of sale or supply and possession of a controlled drug.
In court
  • Both men appeared before a special sitting of Longford District Court on 10 July 2026, where Judge Connellan granted Qasim Rasool bail on a €5,000 own bond with a €50,000 surety and Ahsan Rasool bail on a €4,000 own bond with a €40,000 surety.
  • On 15 October 2026, Judge Bernadette Owens granted Ahsan Rasool permission to vary his bail conditions to travel to the UK and Pakistan for a family wedding, with his next court date on 3 November 2026.
Other details
  • Qasim Rasool made admissions in interview about the sourcing and importation of controlled drugs.
  • Two cash-counting machines and €4,000 in cash were found during the searches.
  • The seized substances were sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
50 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí arrested two men and seized cannabis vapes and edibles valued at about €2 million (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTwo men aged in their 30s were arrested in Mayo and Longford (irishtimes.com, longfordleader.ie)
  • whatSome of the vapes seized contained hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), a semi-synthetic cannabinoid (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCannabis-infused jellies, cannabis oil-infused vapes and 'reefer' cigarettes containing HHC and THC were seized. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatTwo brothers were charged in connection with a seizure of controlled drugs worth an estimated €2 million. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereA large team searched five business premises and two houses in Castlebar, Longford, Drogheda and Carlow (irishtimes.com)
  • whereSearches were carried out at five business premises and two residential premises in Castlebar, Longford, Drogheda and Carlow. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe operation took place in Mayo, Longford, Louth and Carlow (garda.ie)
  • whereThe seizure was linked to searches of Candy Cloud vape shops in Longford, Mayo, Louth and Carlow. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereA warehouse in Townspark Industrial Estate, Longford, was searched under warrant, as were two residential properties in Mayo and Louth. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe searches were conducted on Thursday 2 July and Wednesday 8 July. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe operation took place on 2nd and 8th July 2026 (garda.ie)
  • whenThe searches were conducted on July 2 and 8. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeSearches were carried out after gardaí became aware of retail premises including vaping shops selling illegal cannabis products (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe men were detained under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Garda stations in the midlands (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationOne of the men was released without charge following questioning (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA file on the case is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe operation involved personnel from the bureau, Customs Revenue Service, and Garda drugs units based in Longford, Mayo, Roscommon, Kildare and Drogheda (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe intelligence resulting in the searches came from Operation Tara (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe searches were part of ongoing investigations into organised criminal activity under Operation Tara. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe seized substances will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation is ongoing. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe operation was a joint Gardaí and Revenue operation (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe searches were a joint operation by Gardaí and Revenue. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeBoth men have been charged (garda.ie)
  • chargeBoth brothers were charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of sale or supply and possession of a controlled drug. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtBoth men are scheduled to appear before a special sitting of Longford District Court at 5:30pm on 10 July 2026 (garda.ie)
  • courtGardaí objected to bail, saying they believed the defendants would flee the jurisdiction if granted bail. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Connellan granted Qasim Rasool bail on his own bond of €5,000 with a €50,000 independent surety, and ordered him to surrender his passport within 24 hours of release. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Connellan granted Ahsan Rasool bail on his own bond of €4,000 with a €40,000 independent surety. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtQasim Rasool was remanded in custody with consent to bail and is due back before Longford District Court on Tuesday, July 14. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtAhsan Rasool was remanded in custody with consent to bail and is due to appear again before Longford District Court next Tuesday. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtAhsan Rasool made an application to Longford District Court to amend or vary his bail conditions. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Bernadette Owens heard the application. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtHe is back in court on the 3rd of November for directions. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe seized products had an estimated value in excess of €2 million. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe two men are being detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Garda stations in the Midlands. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherTwo men in their 30s were arrested as part of the investigation (garda.ie)
  • other€2 million in controlled drugs were seized (garda.ie)
  • otherTwo cash-counting machines and €4,000 in cash were found during the search. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherQasim Rasool made admissions in interview about the sourcing and importation of controlled drugs. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHe wished to travel to the UK and Pakistan for a family wedding. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHe currently has permission to travel to Dubai. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHe will hand in his passport to Longford Gardaí upon his return on November 16. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherA family wedding is occurring in the UK between the 26th and 31st of October. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHe is looking to travel to Pakistan to continue the family wedding from London on the 3rd to the 8th of November. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHe already has pre-existing permission to fly to Dubai for a trade show. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherBarrister David Nugent BL represented Ahsan Rasool and said there was no objection from Gardaí. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherSergeant for the State, Enda Daly, confirmed there was no objection to the application. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Oct2026
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Longford court: Candy Cloud brother permitted to travel to UK and Pakistan

    Reports that Ahsan Rasool was granted permission to vary his bail conditions to travel to the UK (26–31 October) and Pakistan (3–8 November) for a family wedding, with his next court date on 3 November 2026 for directions. He already had pre-existing permission to travel to Dubai for a trade show and will return to Ireland on 16 November to hand in his passport.

    accused, Ahsan Rasool, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ahsan Rasool
  2. 11 Jul2026
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    €2M Longford seizure: Candy Cloud brothers in court on charges

    First report of the case. Covers the charges, the searches in Longford, Mayo, Louth and Carlow, the seizure value, and the bail hearings for both brothers, with bail conditions and next court dates.

    accused, Qasim Rasool, 31, male, Irish-Pakistani, named, non-irishQasim Rasoolaccused, Ahsan Rasool, male, Irish-Pakistani, named, non-irishAhsan Rasool
  3. 10 Jul2026
    In courtgarda.ie, its first report
    10/07/2026 Court Appearance: €2 million in Controlled Drugs Seized - Gardaí and Revenue Joint Operation, Mayo, Longford, Louth, Carlow, 2nd and 8th July 2026

    First report of the joint Gardaí and Revenue operation; two men in their 30s charged and appearing at a special sitting of Longford District Court.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male
  4. 9 Jul2026
    Arrestedlongfordleader.ie, its first report
    Men arrested in Longford and Mayo as €2 million in controlled drugs seized

    First report of this case. It gives the search dates of 2 and 8 July 2026, the premises searched, the seized products and their estimated value, and the arrest of two men aged in their 30s. The men are being detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male
  5. 9 Jul2026
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, first report
    Gardaí seize cannabis vapes and edibles worth €2m

    Adds that one of the two men was released without charge and a file is being prepared for the DPP; specifies the types of cannabis products seized (vapes, edibles, reefer cigarettes containing HHC and THC); notes HSE case studies linking HHC vaping to psychotic episodes; identifies the operation as led by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau with Customs Revenue Service involvement.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male