Sunday 1 November 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. 6618Drug trafficking (cocaine) · Co. Wicklow

Man charged over €3.1m cocaine seizure in Wicklow

On 1 February 2024, gardaí carried out a day of action across Dublin and Wicklow, searching 37 dwellings, businesses and vehicles as part of ongoing investigations into a drug trafficking network in the DMR and Eastern Region. A search of a vehicle in Aughrim, Co Wicklow, uncovered 44kg of cocaine estimated at €3.1 million, and €353,000 in cash was seized across the searches, along with eight vehicles, jewellery and electronic devices. Michael Clampett, 52, with an address in Aughrim, was charged with possession of drugs and possession of drugs for sale or supply, while a second man in his 30s was released pending a file to the DPP. Clampett appeared before a special sitting of Bray District Court on 3 February 2024, was remanded in custody with consent to bail, and is due to appear again before Arklow District Court on 7 February.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested1 Feb
    3 reports
  3. Charged1 Feb
  4. In court3 Feb
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • 44kg of cocaine estimated at €3.1 million and €353,000 in cash were seized during a day of action in Dublin and Wicklow.
  • Eight vehicles worth over €200,000, more than €280,000 in frozen bank accounts, jewellery, designer watches and electronic devices were also seized.
Where
The cocaine was found during a search of a vehicle in Aughrim, Co Wicklow, and €213,000 in cash was found at a residence in Clondalkin, Dublin.
When
The operation took place on Thursday 1 February 2024.
Investigation
  • The operation was part of ongoing investigations into a drug trafficking network in the DMR and Eastern Region, led by the Serious Crime Investigation, Drugs and Specialist Support Units of DMR South.
  • 37 dwellings, businesses and vehicles were searched across Dublin and Wicklow.
  • A second man in his 30s was released from custody pending a file to the DPP.
Charges
Michael Clampett, 52, with an address in Aughrim, Co Wicklow, was charged with possession of drugs and possession of drugs for sale or supply.
In court
  • Clampett appeared before a special sitting of Bray District Court on 3 February 2024 and was remanded in custody with consent to bail.
  • He is due to appear again before Arklow District Court on 7 February 2024.
Sentence
He was ordered to surrender his passport, sign on three times a week at Arklow Garda Station, and lodge a bond of €10,000 with two sureties of the same sum.
59 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAbout €3.1m of cocaine and €350,000 in cash were seized. (garda.ie)
  • whatAbout 44kg of cocaine was seized. (garda.ie)
  • whatThe cocaine is estimated to be worth €3.1 million. (garda.ie)
  • what€213,000 in cash was found at a residence in Clondalkin. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • what€140,000 in cash was seized in further searches. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA total of €353,000 in cash was seized as part of the operation. (garda.ie)
  • whatTwo men were arrested after the seizure of 44kg of cocaine worth €3.1m and €353,000 of cash. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe drugs are estimated to be worth €3.1 million. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatOver €280,000 frozen in bank accounts and eight vehicles worth over €200,000 were seized as evidence of money laundering or proceeds of crime. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatTwo men were arrested after €3.1 million worth of cocaine, cash, vehicles and other items were seized in searches in Dublin and Wicklow. (rte.ie)
  • whatGardaí said a further €140,000 in cash was seized in later searches. (rte.ie)
  • whatCocaine estimated at €3.1 million and €350,000 in cash were seized. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatIn total €353,000 in cash was seized, along with jewellery, designer watches, electronic devices, laptops and smartphones. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCocaine estimated to be worth more than €3m was seized. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe seizure was part of a day of action in Dublin and Wicklow. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe cocaine was seized following a search of a vehicle in Wicklow. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe 44kg of cocaine was seized after a vehicle was searched in Wicklow. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereIn Aughrim, County Wicklow, a man in his 30s was arrested after 44kg of cocaine was found during a vehicle search. (rte.ie)
  • whereA search of a vehicle in Wicklow uncovered 44kg of cocaine worth about €3.1 million. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereGardaí found €213,000 in cash at a house in Clondalkin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereMichael Clampett had an address in Aughrim, County Wicklow. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe seizure followed a search of a van in Aughrim. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe operation was a day of action on Thursday 1 February 2024. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe arrests and seizures took place on a day of action in Dublin and Wicklow on Thursday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenGardaí searched 37 homes, businesses, cars and vans on the day before the article was published. (rte.ie)
  • whenHomes, businesses and vehicles were searched across Dublin and Wicklow on Friday. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA second man in his 30s arrested was released from custody pending a file to the DPP. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe day of action was part of ongoing investigations into a drug trafficking network based in the DMR and Eastern Region. (garda.ie)
  • investigationA total of 37 dwellings, businesses and vehicles were searched in Dublin and Wicklow. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said the operation was part of ongoing investigations into a drug trafficking network in the DMR and Eastern Region. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe operation was led by the Serious Crime Investigation, Drugs and Specialist Support Units of the DMR South. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said eight vehicles were seized as evidence of money laundering and proceeds of crime, and more than €280,000 was frozen in bank accounts. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí have been investigating a south Dublin organised crime gang for the past three years. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí say investigations are ongoing. (rte.ie)
  • investigationA second man in his 30s arrested was released from custody, with a file to be sent to the DPP. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA second man in his 30s was released from custody pending a file being sent to the DPP. (rte.ie)
  • chargeGardaí charged a man in his 30s arrested during the operation. (garda.ie)
  • chargeGardaí charged a man in his 30s arrested as part of an operation in Dublin and Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMichael Clampett was cautioned and charged at Crumlin Garda Station. (rte.ie)
  • chargeMichael Clampett was charged with possession of drugs and possession of drugs for sale or supply. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe charged man is due before a special sitting of Bray District Court at 9:15am on Saturday 3 February 2024. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe man appeared at a sitting of Bray District Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMichael Clampett appeared before a special sitting of Bray District Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtMichael Clampett was remanded in custody with consent to bail. (rte.ie)
  • courtMichael Clampett is due to appear again before Arklow District Court on 7 February. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceMichael Clampett was ordered to surrender his passport and any travel documents and to sign on three times a week at Arklow Garda Station. (rte.ie)
  • otherA man in his 30s was detained at a Garda station in the DMR in connection with the Wicklow vehicle search. (garda.ie)
  • otherA man in his 30s was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, as part of the investigation. (garda.ie)
  • otherMore than €280,000 was frozen in bank accounts. (garda.ie)
  • otherEight vehicles worth over €200,000 were seized as evidence of money laundering or proceeds of crime. (garda.ie)
  • otherJewellery, designer watches, electronic devices, laptops and smartphones were also seized. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • otherOne man in his 30s was detained at a Garda station in the DMR in connection with the vehicle search. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA second man in his 30s was detained at a Garda station in the DMR as part of the investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe two men in custody can be questioned for up to seven days. (rte.ie)
  • otherAssistant Garda Commissioner Angela Willis described the seizures as very significant. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMichael Clampett must lodge his own bond of €10,000 and two independent sureties must provide the same sum. (rte.ie)
  • otherLegal aid was granted to Michael Clampett. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Feb2024
    In courtrte.ie, first report
    Man in court over seizure of cocaine worth €3m

    First report of the case. Covers the charge, the court appearance, bail terms and the release of a second man.

    accused, Michael Clampett, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Clampettsuspect, 30s, male
  2. 3 Feb2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Man (30s) charged after seizure of cocaine valued at €3.1 million

    Reports the charge and court appearance of a man in his 30s, the 44kg cocaine seizure from a vehicle in Wicklow, a €213,000 cash find at a Clondalkin house, a total of €353,000 seized, and the release of a second man without charge pending a DPP file.

    accused, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male
  3. 2 Feb2024
    Arrestedrte.ie, follow-up
    Two arrests after cocaine worth €3.1m, cars, cash seized

    Reports the Aughrim vehicle search as part of a wider garda operation targeting a south Dublin gang. Adds the 44kg cocaine weight, the man's age range, and the arrest rather than a charge, and says he can be questioned for up to seven days.

    suspect, 30s, male
  4. 2 Feb2024
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Two men arrested as gardai seize 44kg of cocaine worth €3.1m

    First report of the operation. The article gives the date only as Thursday; 2024-02-01 is inferred from the article's publication date of 2024-02-02.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male
  5. 1 Feb2024
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Two Arrests, €3.1m Cocaine and €353,000 Cash Seized - Day of Action in Dublin and Wicklow - 1st February 2024

    Official garda.ie account of the operation: 37 dwellings, businesses and vehicles searched, two men detained, and further totals for cash, frozen bank funds, vehicles and jewellery seized.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male
  6. 1 Feb2024
    Chargedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Court Appearance - Two Arrests, €3.1m Cocaine and €353,000 Cash Seized - Day of Action in Dublin and Wicklow - 1st February 2024

    Garda press release confirming the charge, the court date at Bray District Court (Saturday 3 February 2024 at 9:15am), and that the second arrested man was released pending a file to the DPP.

    accused, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male