Ireland Man arrested after submachine gun, cannabis and ammunition seized in Limerick
On Monday 18 December 2023, gardaí searching a residence and lands in the Ballysimon area of Limerick, as part of Operation Tara, seized cannabis herb with an estimated street value of €100,000, a submachine gun and a number of rounds of ammunition. A man in his 30s was arrested and detained at a Garda station in County Limerick under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, which allows up to seven days, and the seized drugs were sent for analysis by Forensic Science Ireland. By 22 December 2023 gardaí had released the man without charge and said a file would be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Investigations are ongoing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested18 Dec
3 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí seized a firearm, ammunition and over €100,000 worth of drugs in Limerick.
- Cannabis herb with an estimated street value of €100,000 was seized.
- Where
- The search was of a residence and lands in the Ballysimon area on the outskirts of Limerick city.
- When
- The search took place on Monday 18 December 2023.
- Cause
- Gardaí were acting on intelligence they had received.
- Weapon
- A submachine gun and a number of rounds of ammunition were seized.
- Investigation
- The search was part of Operation Tara, carried out by Gardaí attached to the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit.
- The seized drugs are being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland.
- A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Investigations are ongoing and further updates will follow.
- Other details
- A man in his 30s was arrested as part of the investigation.
- He was detained at a Garda station in County Limerick under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, which allows up to seven days.
- Charges
- The man was released without charge by 22 December 2023.
26 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí are investigating the seizure of a firearm, ammunition and over €100,000 worth of drugs. (garda.ie)
- whatCannabis herb with an estimated street value of €100,000 was seized. (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whereThe seizure followed a search operation in Limerick. (garda.ie)
- whereThe search was of a residence and lands in the Ballysimon area of Limerick. (garda.ie)
- whereThe search took place at a house and lands in the Ballysimon area on the outskirts of Limerick city. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereGardaí searched a home and lands in the Ballysimon area of Limerick. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe search operation took place on Monday 18 December 2023. (garda.ie)
- whenThe search operation took place in Limerick on Monday, 18 December 2023. (garda.ie)
- whenThe raid happened the day before the report was published. (corkbeo.ie)
- whenThe search took place on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
- causeGardaí were acting on intelligence they had received. (corkbeo.ie)
- weaponA sub machine gun and a number of rounds of ammunition were seized. (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe arrested man has been released without charge. (garda.ie)
- investigationA file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe search was part of Operation Tara, carried out by Gardaí attached to the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe seized drugs are being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland. (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe search was part of the ongoing national Operation Tara campaign. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe arrested man is detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at a Garda station in County Limerick. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe search was part of Operation Tara. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí said investigations are ongoing and further updates will follow. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA man in his 30s was arrested as part of the investigation. (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- otherThe arrested man is detained at a Garda station in County Limerick under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. (garda.ie)
- otherHe can be held for up to seven days. (garda.ie)
- otherInvestigations are ongoing and further updates will follow. (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- otherA man in his 30s was arrested and detained at a Garda station in Co Limerick under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Dec2023Man arrested as submachine gun and cannabis seized in Limerick
First report of this search and arrest. Gives the location, the seizure values, the submachine gun and ammunition, and the arrest under the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.
suspect, 30s, male - 19 Dec2023Drugs and sub-machine gun seized as Gardai raid Limerick house
Gives the Ballysimon location, the Operation Tara link, the sub-machine gun seizure and the arrest and detention of a man in his 30s.
suspect, 30s, male - 18 Dec2023Operation Tara – Firearm, Ammunition and €100,000 Drugs Seizure Limerick 18th December 2023
Official Garda press release (issued 19 December 2023) that names the operation as Operation Tara, says the drugs are being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland, and gives the legal basis for the detention under the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, with up to seven days allowed. It also says investigations are ongoing.
suspect, 30s, male - 18 Dec2023Update: Operation Tara, Firearm, Ammunition and €100,000 Drugs Seizure, Limerick. 18th December, 2023.
Update from garda.ie: the arrested man has been released without charge, and a file is to go to the DPP. The article names the operation as Operation Tara.
suspect, male