Ireland Man arrested over drone delivery of drugs into prisons
A drone carrying diamorphine intended for a west Dublin prison was seized on 12 February 2024. On a Friday, reported on 24 February 2024, the Garda Drugs Unit from Ronanstown searched a home in west Dublin (one report says a house in Dublin) and seized more than €180,000, a €10,000 designer watch, drones and several phones. A 42-year-old man was arrested at the scene, questioned at a Dublin garda station, and detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. The latest report, dated 26 February 2024, says he is detained and no charge has been reported.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested25 Feb
2 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí believe they have disrupted an organised crime gang that used drones to smuggle drugs into prisons.
- The gang is understood to use hi-tech equipment, including drones, to fly drugs into Wheatfield and Cloverhill prisons.
- Where
- The search was of a home in west Dublin, though one report says a house in Dublin.
- When
- The search took place on a Friday, reported on 24 February 2024.
- Cause
- The operation followed a seizure on 12 February 2024 of a drone and diamorphine intended for a west Dublin prison.
- Investigation
- The Garda Drugs Unit from Ronanstown carried out the search as part of a Garda investigation into drugs delivered into prisons by drone.
- Sources said the operation targeted members of the Hutch organised crime gang.
- A 42-year-old man was arrested at the scene and questioned at a Dublin garda station.
- The 42-year-old man was detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in Dublin.
- Other details
- More than €180,000 in cash, in various denominations, was seized.
- Detectives seized drones, a designer watch valued at €10,000, and several burner phones, which one report calls mobile phones.
- The Irish Prison Service thanked gardaí for their efforts to keep drugs out of prisons.
- Charges
- No charge has been reported in the articles.
17 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí believe they have smashed an organised crime gang using drones to smuggle drugs into prisons. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe gang is understood to use hi-tech equipment, including drones, to fly drugs into Wheatfield and Cloverhill prisons. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA man was arrested. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMore than €180,000 in various denominations was seized. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe raid was on a house in Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe Garda Drugs Unit from Ronanstown searched a home in west Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe raid took place on a Friday. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe search took place on a Friday. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe operation followed an earlier seizure involving a drone and diamorphine intended for a west Dublin prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationSources said the operation targeted members of the Hutch organised crime gang. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationA 42-year-old man was arrested at the scene and questioned at a Dublin garda station. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe 42-year-old man was detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in the Dublin Region. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe arrest and seizure were part of a Garda investigation into drugs being delivered into prisons by drone. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDetectives seized drones, cash, a designer watch and several burner phones. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherA designer watch valued at €10,000 and several mobile phones were also seized. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe arrested man, aged 42, is detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda station in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe Irish Prison Service thanked gardaí for their efforts to keep drugs out of prisons. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 26 Feb2024Gardai arrest man over drone delivery of drugs into prisons
Reports the arrest of a 42-year-old man after a search of a home in west Dublin, with over €180,000, a designer watch and several mobile phones seized. Links the operation to an earlier drone seizure of diamorphine on 12 February 2024.
suspect, 42, male - 25 Feb2024Gardai smash criminal gang using drones to smuggle drugs into prison
First report of the Friday raid. Adds the seized items and cash, the gang's suspected method of flying drugs into Wheatfield and Cloverhill prisons, the claim that the operation targeted the Hutch gang, and the arrest and detention of a 42-year-old man. Other seizures mentioned in the article (€2 million in west Dublin, and a drone with heroin on 12 February) are separate incidents and are not recorded.
suspect, 42, male