Thursday 29 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. 7539Drug trafficking · Co. Westmeath · 11 Sep 2023

Man arrested after drugs worth €130,000 seized in Athlone

Gardaí searched a car in the Ballymore area of Athlone, Co Westmeath, shortly before 11am on Monday 11 September 2023 and recovered cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis with a combined estimated value of €130,000, pending analysis, along with a sum of cash. The car's occupant, a man in his 20s whose name and nationality were not given, was arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at a Garda station in Westmeath, and has been charged. He is expected to appear before Athlone District Court on Wednesday 13 September 2023, and investigations are ongoing with the drugs being sent to FSI for further analysis.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested12 Sep
  3. Charged11 Sep
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis were recovered along with a sum of cash.
  • The combined value of the drugs, pending analysis, is put at around €130,000.
Where
Gardaí searched a car in the Ballymore area of Athlone; the Garda release places the search in Ballymore, County Westmeath.
When
The search took place shortly before 11am on Monday 11 September 2023.
Investigation
  • The search was carried out by the Athlone Detective Unit, Westmeath Divisional Drug Unit and Westmeath Roads Policing Unit.
  • The drugs are being sent to FSI for further analysis, and Gardaí said investigations are ongoing.
Other details
  • The car's occupant, a man in his 20s, was arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at a Garda station in Westmeath.
  • He can be held for up to seven days.
  • His name and nationality were not given in the sources.
Charges
The man arrested over the seizure has been charged, as reported on 11 September 2023.
In court
He is expected to appear before Athlone District Court on Wednesday 13 September 2023.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatCocaine, ecstasy and cannabis with a combined value of €130,000 were recovered, subject to analysis. (garda.ie)
  • whatA sum of cash was also recovered. (garda.ie)
  • whatGardaí recovered cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis along with a sum of cash. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe combined value of the drugs, pending analysis, is thought to be around €130,000. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereGardaí searched a car in the Ballymore area of Athlone. (garda.ie)
  • whereGardaí searched a car in the Ballymore area. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe seizure took place in Athlone, Co Westmeath. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe search took place shortly before 11am on Monday 11 September 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe search took place just before 11am on Monday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe search was carried out by the Athlone Detective Unit, Westmeath Divisional Drug Unit and Westmeath Roads Policing Unit. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe drugs will be sent to FSI for further analysis. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe search was carried out by the Athlone Detective Unit, the Westmeath Divisional Drug Unit and the Westmeath Roads Policing Unit. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said investigations are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe man arrested over the seizure has been charged. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe man is expected to appear before Athlone District Court on Wednesday 13 September 2023. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe man was arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 at a Garda station in Westmeath. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe car's occupant, a man in his 20s, was arrested. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at a Garda station in Westmeath. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHe can be held for up to seven days. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 Sep2023
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man arrested after quantity of drugs worth €130,000 seized by gardai in Athlone

    First report of this Athlone drugs seizure and arrest. Gives the location, the drug types, the estimated value and the detention details. No existing case covers this incident.

    suspect, 20s, male
  2. 11 Sep2023
    Chargedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Court Appearance - Operation Tara - €130,000 Drug Seizure – Athlone, County Westmeath - 11th September 2023

    Confirms the man has been charged and gives his expected court date. Says the drugs have been sent for further analysis and that investigations are ongoing.

    accused, 20s, male