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. 20499Drugs offence (cocaine seizure) · Co. Mayo · 29 Jun 2023

Man arrested after cocaine and cash seized in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo

On Thursday 29 June 2023, Gardaí searched a residence in Ballinrobe, County Mayo, as part of Operation Tara, targeting drug dealing in South Mayo. They seized approximately €70,000 of suspected cocaine and over €4,000 in cash (reported as €4,200 in one account), and a man in his early 50s was arrested at the scene. He was detained at a Garda station in Mayo under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. As of 30 June 2023, no charge or court appearance had been reported, the seized drugs were due to be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, and investigations were ongoing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested29 Jun
    2 reports
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí seized approximately €70,000 of suspected cocaine.
  • Cash seized was over €4,000 in one account and €4,200 in another.
  • Evidence of suspected drug dealing was also seized.
Where
The search took place at a residence in Ballinrobe, County Mayo.
When
The search took place on Thursday 29 June 2023.
Cause
The search targeted criminality and drug dealing in South Mayo.
Investigation
  • The search was conducted as part of Operation Tara by the Divisional Drug Unit.
  • The seized drugs were to be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
  • Investigations were ongoing as of 30 June 2023.
Other details
  • A man in his early 50s was arrested at the scene.
  • The man was detained at a Garda station in Mayo under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.
  • The garda.ie press release and the Galway Daily report, both dated 30 June 2023, give the same account.
Charges
No charge or court appearance was reported as of 30 June 2023.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí seized approximately €70,000 of suspected cocaine and over €4,000 in cash. (garda.ie, galwaydaily.com)
  • whatThe seizure included €4,200 in cash. (garda.ie)
  • whatCash seized was given as €4,200 later in the article. (galwaydaily.com)
  • whereThe search took place at a residence in Ballinrobe. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe search was carried out at a residence in Ballinrobe. (galwaydaily.com)
  • whenThe search took place on Thursday 29 June 2023. (garda.ie, galwaydaily.com)
  • causeThe search was targeting criminality and drug dealing in South Mayo. (galwaydaily.com)
  • investigationThe search was conducted as part of Operation Tara. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe search was carried out by the Divisional Drug Unit. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe search targeted criminality and drug dealing in the South Mayo area. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (garda.ie, galwaydaily.com)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie, galwaydaily.com)
  • otherGardaí also found evidence of suspected drug dealing. (garda.ie)
  • otherA man in his early 50s was arrested at the scene. (garda.ie, galwaydaily.com)
  • otherThe man was being detained at a Garda station in Mayo under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. (garda.ie)
  • otherEvidence of suspected drug dealing was also seized. (galwaydaily.com)
  • otherThe man was being detained at a Garda station in Mayo. (galwaydaily.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Jun2023
    Arrestedgalwaydaily.com, first report
    Man (50s) arrested in major drugs seizure in West - Galway Daily

    Reports a search of a Ballinrobe residence targeting drug dealing in South Mayo. Gives the cocaine value as about €70,000 and the cash as over €4,000 (later given as €4,200). A man in his early 50s was arrested and detained; the article does not name him. No charge or court appearance is reported.

    suspect, early 50s, male
  2. 29 Jun2023
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Operation Tara - Approximately €70,000 Cocaine and Over €4,000 Cash Seized, One Man Arrested, Ballinrobe, County Mayo, Thursday 29th June 2023

    Garda.ie press release issued 30 June 2023. It adds that the search was conducted by the Divisional Drug Unit, that the man was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, that the drugs will go to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, and that the search targeted drug dealing in South Mayo.

    suspect, early 50s, male