Wednesday 28 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. 0328Possession of controlled drugs, smuggling of contraband into prisons · Co. Dublin · 7 Sep 2026

Man and woman in 20s arrested in prison drug smuggling investigation

A man and a woman, both in their 20s, were arrested on 7 September 2026 in Dublin as part of a two-year Garda investigation into a criminal group smuggling drugs and contraband into Wheatfield, Cloverhill and Mountjoy prisons. The arrests were made by gardaí attached to Crime South based at Lucan and Ronanstown stations. In April 2025, searches of properties in Clondalkin, Ballyfermot, Coolock and Tallaght and some cells in Mountjoy Prison yielded miniature phones, a drone, controlled drugs worth over €25,000, €22,000 in cash and other items. Both suspects were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 and can be held for up to seven days, with investigations ongoing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested7 Sep
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man and a woman, both in their 20s, were arrested as part of a Garda investigation into a criminal group smuggling drugs and contraband into Irish prisons.
  • Miniature phones wrapped in insulation tape, a drone, a Rolex watch, mobile phones, financial documents, improvised weapons and drug paraphernalia were seized during the searches.
  • €17,000 worth of cannabis, €5,000 of cocaine, €3,000 in tablets and €22,000 in cash were seized.
Where
The arrests were made by gardaí attached to Crime South based at Lucan and Ronanstown stations in Dublin.
When
  • The arrests were made on Monday 7 September 2026.
  • On 8 April 2025, gardaí searched properties in Clondalkin, Ballyfermot, Coolock and Tallaght and some cells in Mountjoy Prison.
Investigation
  • The two-year investigation covers the smuggling of controlled drugs and contraband into Wheatfield, Cloverhill and Mountjoy prisons.
  • Both suspects were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Garda station in the Dublin region and can be held for up to seven days.
Charges
The offence under investigation is possession of controlled drugs and smuggling of contraband into prisons.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatBoth suspects are aged in their 20s. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMiniature phones wrapped in insulation tape ready to be sent by drone to the prisons were seized during the searches. (irishtimes.com)
  • what€17,000 worth of cannabis was seized. (irishtimes.com)
  • what€5,000 of cocaine was seized. (irishtimes.com)
  • what€3,000 in tablets was seized. (irishtimes.com)
  • what€22,000 in cash was seized. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA drone, Rolex watch, mobile phones, financial documents, improvised weapons and drug paraphernalia including weighing scales and bagging equipment were also found. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe arrests were made by gardaí attached to Crime South based at Lucan and Ronanstown stations. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereSome cells in Mountjoy Prison were also searched during the April 2025 operation. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenA man and woman were arrested on Monday 7 September 2026. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenOn 8 April 2025, gardaí searched properties in Clondalkin, Ballyfermot, Coolock and Tallaght as part of the two-year investigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe arrests are part of a Garda investigation into a criminal group smuggling drugs and other items into Irish prisons. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationBoth suspects were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Garda station in the Dublin region. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe suspects can be held for up to seven days. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe investigation is a two-year probe into the smuggling of controlled drugs and contraband into Wheatfield, Cloverhill and Mountjoy prisons. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Sep2026
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man and woman arrested following prison drug smuggling investigation

    Reports the arrest of a man and woman in their 20s as part of the prison drug smuggling investigation and provides details of items seized during April 2025 searches, including miniature phones, a drone, and controlled drugs worth over €25,000.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, female