Ireland Case No. 6618Drug trafficking (cocaine) · Co. Wicklow
Man (30s) charged after €3.1m cocaine seizure in Dublin and Wicklow
On Thursday 1 February 2024, gardaí carried out a day of action in Dublin and Wicklow against a drug trafficking network in the DMR and Eastern Region, searching 37 dwellings, businesses and vehicles. A search of a vehicle in Wicklow found about 44kg of cocaine estimated at €3.1 million, and cash seizures totalled €353,000 according to garda.ie or €350,000 according to other reports. Two men in their 30s were arrested; one was charged and the other was released from custody pending a file to the DPP. The charged man was due before a special sitting of Bray District Court at 9:15am on Saturday 3 February 2024, and the Irish Times reports he appeared there that morning.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested1 Feb
2 reports - Charged1 Feb
- In court3 Feb
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- About 44kg of cocaine, estimated to be worth €3.1 million, was seized.
- Cash seized totalled €353,000 according to garda.ie, or €350,000 according to other reports.
- €213,000 in cash was found at a residence in Clondalkin and €140,000 was seized in further searches.
- Over €280,000 was frozen in bank accounts and eight vehicles worth over €200,000 were seized as evidence of money laundering or proceeds of crime.
- Jewellery, designer watches, electronic devices, laptops and smartphones were also seized.
- Where
- The cocaine was found after a vehicle was searched in Wicklow.
- The cash of €213,000 was found at a house in Clondalkin, Dublin.
- When
- The day of action took place on Thursday 1 February 2024, though the Irish Times reports the homes, businesses and vehicles were searched on Friday.
- Investigation
- The operation was part of ongoing investigations into a drug trafficking network based in the DMR and Eastern Region, led by the Serious Crime Investigation, Drugs and Specialist Support Units of the DMR South.
- A total of 37 dwellings, businesses and vehicles were searched across Dublin and Wicklow.
- Two men in their 30s were arrested and detained at a Garda station in the DMR, and one was released from custody with a file to be sent to the DPP.
- Charges
- Gardaí charged a man in his 30s who was arrested during the operation.
- In court
- The charged man was due before a special sitting of Bray District Court at 9:15am on Saturday 3 February 2024, and the Irish Times reports he appeared that morning.
- Other details
- Investigations are ongoing.
39 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAbout €3.1m of cocaine and €350,000 in cash were seized. (garda.ie)
- whatAbout 44kg of cocaine was seized. (garda.ie)
- whatThe cocaine is estimated to be worth €3.1 million. (garda.ie)
- what€213,000 in cash was found at a residence in Clondalkin. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- what€140,000 in cash was seized in further searches. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatA total of €353,000 in cash was seized as part of the operation. (garda.ie)
- whatTwo men were arrested after the seizure of 44kg of cocaine worth €3.1m and €353,000 of cash. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe drugs are estimated to be worth €3.1 million. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOver €280,000 frozen in bank accounts and eight vehicles worth over €200,000 were seized as evidence of money laundering or proceeds of crime. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCocaine estimated at €3.1 million and €350,000 in cash were seized. (irishtimes.com)
- whatIn total €353,000 in cash was seized, along with jewellery, designer watches, electronic devices, laptops and smartphones. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe seizure was part of a day of action in Dublin and Wicklow. (garda.ie)
- whereThe cocaine was seized following a search of a vehicle in Wicklow. (garda.ie)
- whereThe 44kg of cocaine was seized after a vehicle was searched in Wicklow. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereA search of a vehicle in Wicklow uncovered 44kg of cocaine worth about €3.1 million. (irishtimes.com)
- whereGardaí found €213,000 in cash at a house in Clondalkin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe operation was a day of action on Thursday 1 February 2024. (garda.ie)
- whenThe arrests and seizures took place on a day of action in Dublin and Wicklow on Thursday. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenHomes, businesses and vehicles were searched across Dublin and Wicklow on Friday. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA second man in his 30s arrested was released from custody pending a file to the DPP. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe day of action was part of ongoing investigations into a drug trafficking network based in the DMR and Eastern Region. (garda.ie)
- investigationA total of 37 dwellings, businesses and vehicles were searched in Dublin and Wicklow. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí said the operation was part of ongoing investigations into a drug trafficking network in the DMR and Eastern Region. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe operation was led by the Serious Crime Investigation, Drugs and Specialist Support Units of the DMR South. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA second man in his 30s arrested was released from custody, with a file to be sent to the DPP. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeGardaí charged a man in his 30s arrested during the operation. (garda.ie)
- chargeGardaí charged a man in his 30s arrested as part of an operation in Dublin and Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe charged man is due before a special sitting of Bray District Court at 9:15am on Saturday 3 February 2024. (garda.ie)
- courtThe man appeared at a sitting of Bray District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA man in his 30s was detained at a Garda station in the DMR in connection with the Wicklow vehicle search. (garda.ie)
- otherA man in his 30s was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, as part of the investigation. (garda.ie)
- otherMore than €280,000 was frozen in bank accounts. (garda.ie)
- otherEight vehicles worth over €200,000 were seized as evidence of money laundering or proceeds of crime. (garda.ie)
- otherJewellery, designer watches, electronic devices, laptops and smartphones were also seized. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherOne man in his 30s was detained at a Garda station in the DMR in connection with the vehicle search. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA second man in his 30s was detained at a Garda station in the DMR as part of the investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherAssistant Garda Commissioner Angela Willis described the seizures as very significant. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 3 Feb2024Man (30s) charged after seizure of cocaine valued at €3.1 million
Reports the charge and court appearance of a man in his 30s, the 44kg cocaine seizure from a vehicle in Wicklow, a €213,000 cash find at a Clondalkin house, a total of €353,000 seized, and the release of a second man without charge pending a DPP file.
accused, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male - 2 Feb2024Two men arrested as gardai seize 44kg of cocaine worth €3.1m
First report of the operation. The article gives the date only as Thursday; 2024-02-01 is inferred from the article's publication date of 2024-02-02.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male - 1 Feb2024Two Arrests, €3.1m Cocaine and €353,000 Cash Seized - Day of Action in Dublin and Wicklow - 1st February 2024
Official garda.ie account of the operation: 37 dwellings, businesses and vehicles searched, two men detained, and further totals for cash, frozen bank funds, vehicles and jewellery seized.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male - 1 Feb2024Court Appearance - Two Arrests, €3.1m Cocaine and €353,000 Cash Seized - Day of Action in Dublin and Wicklow - 1st February 2024
Garda press release confirming the charge, the court date at Bray District Court (Saturday 3 February 2024 at 9:15am), and that the second arrested man was released pending a file to the DPP.
accused, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male