Saturday 31 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. 21234Drugs offence (heroin and cocaine seizure) · Co. Laois · 3 May 2023

Man and woman charged after heroin and cocaine seized in Portlaoise searches

Gardaí seized about €230,000 of suspected heroin and cocaine in searches in Portlaoise, Co Laois, on 3 and 4 May 2023, as part of Operation Tara by the Laois Drugs Unit. A man in his 30s was arrested on 3 May after being stopped and searched on Mountmellick Road, and an adult woman in her late teens was later arrested at a Garda station in the Midlands. The man was charged and appeared before Portlaoise District Court on 4 May 2023. The woman was charged and is due before Nenagh District Court on 5 May 2023, while the seized drugs are sent for analysis and investigations continue.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged5 May
  4. In court4 May
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí seized about €230,000 of suspected heroin and cocaine in searches in Portlaoise, Co Laois, on 3 and 4 May 2023.
  • On 3 May, a search of a residence in Portlaoise found €15,680 worth of heroin and €880 worth of cocaine.
  • On 4 May, follow-up searches at two further residences in Portlaoise, aided by the Garda Dog Unit, seized about 1.5kg of suspected heroin, valued at €150,000 in the Garda statement and at €210,000 in other reports.
Investigation
  • The searches were carried out as part of Operation Tara by the Laois Drugs Unit.
  • The man was arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
  • An adult woman in her late teens was arrested and detained at a Garda station in the Midlands under Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act 1996.
  • The seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
  • Investigations are ongoing.
When
On 3 May, a man in his 30s was stopped and searched on Mountmellick Road in Portlaoise and found with €3,920 worth of heroin.
Charges
  • The man was charged and appeared before Portlaoise District Court on 4 May 2023.
  • The woman was charged and is due to appear before Nenagh District Court on 5 May 2023.
Sentence
No sentence has been reported.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí seized about €230,000 of suspected heroin and cocaine in searches in Portlaoise on 3 and 4 May 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whatOn 3 May a man in his 30s was stopped and searched on Mountmellick Road and was found with €3,920 worth of heroin. (garda.ie)
  • whatOn 3 May a search of a residence in Portlaoise found €15,680 worth of heroin and €880 worth of cocaine. (garda.ie)
  • whatOn 4 May follow-up searches, aided by the Garda Dog Unit, found about 1.5kg of suspected heroin valued at €150,000 at two further residences in Portlaoise. (garda.ie)
  • whatGardaí arrested two people and seized heroin and cocaine worth over €200,000. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA search of a residence in Portlaoise on the same day seized €15,680 of heroin and €880 of cocaine. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe searches were carried out in Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereA man in his 30s was stopped and searched on Mountmellick Road in Portlaoise and found with €3,920 worth of heroin. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereA search of a residence in Portlaoise found €15,680 worth of heroin and €880 worth of cocaine. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereGardaí seized about €230,000 of suspected heroin and cocaine in searches in Portlaoise, Co Laois, on Wednesday and Thursday. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereOn Thursday, follow-up searches at two further residences in Portlaoise seized about 1.5kg of suspected heroin valued at €210,000. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe searches took place on Wednesday and Thursday, 3 and 4 May 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenFollow-up searches of two further residences in Portlaoise seized about 1.5kg of suspected heroin worth €210,000 on Thursday, 4 May. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenOn Wednesday, 3 May, a man in his 30s was stopped and searched on Mountmellick Road and found with €3,920 worth of heroin. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe searches were carried out as part of Operation Tara by the Laois Drugs Unit. (garda.ie, leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe man was arrested and detained under Section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984. (garda.ie)
  • investigationAn adult woman in her late teens was arrested and detained at a Garda station in the Midlands under Section 2 Drug Trafficking Act, 1996. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe drugs seized, totalling €210,000 of heroin and €880 of cocaine, will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe arrested man has been charged and appeared before Portlaoise District Court on 4 May 2023. (garda.ie)
  • chargeThe man was arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeAn adult woman in her late teens was arrested and detained at a Garda station in the Midlands under Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act, 1996. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe arrested man has been charged and appeared before Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe arrested woman has been charged and is due to appear before Nenagh District Court on Friday, 5 May. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe arrested woman has been charged and is due to appear before Nenagh District Court on 5 May 2023. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe arrested man has been charged and appeared before Portlaoise District Court on Thursday. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherA woman in her late teens was arrested and detained at a Garda station in the Midlands under Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act 1996. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 5 May2023
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Man arrested after large quantity of drugs seized during searches in the Midlands

    Reports the Operation Tara searches in Portlaoise, the arrests of a man in his 30s and a woman in her late teens, the follow-up Thursday searches, and court appearances for both.

    accused, 30s, maleaccused, late teens, female
  2. 5 May2023
    Chargedleinsterexpress.ie, follow-up
    Two arrested as Laois gardai seize heroin and cocaine worth over €200,000

    Reports the Laois Drugs Unit seizure under Operation Tara, the arrest of a man in his 30s and a woman in her late teens, and that both have been charged.

    accused, 30s, maleaccused, late teens, female
  3. 4 May2023
    In courtgarda.ie, follow-up
    Operation Tara - €230,000 Drugs Seized and Two People Arrested, Portlaoise, Co. Laois 3rd & 4th May 2023

    Garda press release adding the Operation Tara context, the Laois Drugs Unit, the 4 May follow-up searches with the Garda Dog Unit, the referral of the drugs for analysis, the court appearance of the man before Portlaoise District Court, and the woman's scheduled appearance at Nenagh District Court.

    accused, 30s, maleaccused, late teens, female