Ireland Case No. 3389Possession of controlled drugs · Co. Dublin
Man charged over €830,000 ketamine seizure in Lucan, Dublin
Gardaí from the Ronanstown Drugs Unit searched a property in Lucan, Co. Dublin on Easter Sunday, 5 April 2026, as part of Operation Tara, and recovered 1kg of suspected ketamine worth approximately €60,000. Conor Cooper, a man aged 28, was arrested and tried to evade officers by jumping from an upstairs bedroom window. Follow-up searches on 6 April recovered a further 13kg of suspected ketamine worth approximately €770,000, along with cocaine, cannabis and €5,900 in cash. Cooper was charged with possessing ketamine for sale or supply and lesser cannabis and cocaine offences, and was remanded in custody with consent to bail at Cloverhill District Court, with a return date of 14 April.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested6 Apr
2 reports - Charged6 Apr
3 reports - In court1 Apr
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí from the Ronanstown Drugs Unit searched a premises in Lucan, Co. Dublin on 5 April 2026 and recovered 1kg of suspected ketamine worth approximately €60,000.
- Follow-up searches on 6 April 2026 recovered a further 13kg of suspected ketamine worth approximately €770,000, along with cocaine, cannabis and €5,900 in cash.
- The total approximate value of the seized ketamine was €830,000.
- Where
- The searches took place at a property in Lucan, Co. Dublin, near the Kildare-Dublin border.
- When
- The initial search was on Sunday, 5 April 2026, and follow-up searches were on Monday, 6 April 2026.
- Investigation
- The searches were conducted as part of Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy targeting drug trafficking networks.
- Officers found the car had a hidden compartment operated by remote control.
- The seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
- Charges
- Conor Cooper was charged with possessing ketamine for sale or supply and lesser cannabis and cocaine possession offences.
- In court
- Cooper was remanded in custody with consent to bail at Cloverhill District Court, with a return date of 14 April.
- Other details
- Cooper tried to evade gardaí by jumping from an upstairs bedroom window.
59 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA Dublin man was charged over a seizure of more than €830,000 worth of ketamine. (thejournal.ie)
- whatCooper tried to evade gardaí by jumping from an upstairs bedroom window. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA package Cooper was trying to discard allegedly contained €61,500 worth of ketamine. (thejournal.ie)
- whatGardaí also found cocaine, cannabis and €5,900 in cash at the dwelling. (thejournal.ie)
- whatGardaí allegedly recovered 13 more packages of suspected ketamine worth €770,000 from the car. (thejournal.ie)
- what€830,000 of controlled drugs were seized in Lucan, Co. Dublin (garda.ie)
- whatGardaí seized approximately €830,000 of controlled drugs. (garda.ie)
- whatOne kilo of suspected ketamine with an approximate value of €60,000 was recovered during the initial search. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man in his 20s was arrested. (garda.ie)
- whatThe follow-up searches resulted in the recovery of 13 kilos of suspected ketamine with an approximate value of €770,000. (garda.ie)
- whatGardaí found 1kg of suspected ketamine estimated to be worth €60,000. (rte.ie)
- whatFollow-up searches led to the seizure of a further 13kg of suspected ketamine, valued at approximately €770,000. (rte.ie)
- what14 kilos of suspected ketamine were seized in total. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe total approximate value of the seized ketamine was €830,000. (irishmirror.ie)
- what13 kilos of suspected ketamine with an approximate value of €770,000 were recovered in the follow-up searches. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí recovered one kilogram of suspected ketamine on Easter Sunday. (kildarenow.com)
- whereThe raid took place at Conor Cooper's home in Lucan. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe initial search took place at a premises in Lucan, Co. Dublin, on 5 April 2026. (garda.ie)
- whereSuspected ketamine was seized in Lucan, Co Dublin. (rte.ie)
- whereThe initial search was conducted at a premises in Lucan, Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe suspected drugs were seized from a property in Lucan. (kildarenow.com)
- whereThe property is located near the Kildare-Dublin border. (kildarenow.com)
- whenGardaí from Ronanstown station attended the accused's home on a Saturday. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe seizure took place on 5th and 6th April 2026 (garda.ie)
- whenFollow-up searches were conducted on 6 April 2026. (garda.ie)
- whenThe search of the premises took place on a Sunday. (rte.ie)
- whenThe initial search took place on Sunday, 5 April 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenFollow-up searches were conducted on Monday morning, 6 April 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe man was arrested on Easter Sunday, 5 April. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationOfficers found the car had a hidden compartment operated by remote control. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was part of Operation Tara (garda.ie)
- investigationThe searches were conducted as part of ongoing investigations under Operation Tara. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe search was conducted by Gardaí from the Ronanstown Drugs Unit. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe man is detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at a Garda Station in Co. Dublin. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (garda.ie, kildarenow.com)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationA man in his 20s was arrested and is being held at a garda station in Dublin. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was made as part of Operation Tara, which targets drug trafficking networks. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe man was arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe seizure forms part of Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy launched by the Garda Commissioner in July 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe searches were conducted by Gardaí from the Ronanstown Drugs Unit. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationFollow-up searches on Easter Monday recovered 13kg of suspected ketamine. (kildarenow.com)
- chargeCooper was charged with possessing ketamine for sale or supply and having a car to store and transport the drug. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeHe was also charged with lesser cannabis and cocaine possession offences. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeFurther charges could be brought. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeA male in his 20s was arrested and has now been charged (garda.ie)
- chargeHe is charged with a number of offences in relation to the incident (garda.ie)
- chargeThe man is charged with a number of offences in relation to the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe man has now been charged. (kildarenow.com)
- courtCooper made no reply when charged. (thejournal.ie)
- courtGardaí opposed bail citing the seriousness of the case and flight risk. (thejournal.ie)
- courtBail was initially set at €13,000. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge set bond at €3,000, with a €10,000 independent surety required before release. (thejournal.ie)
- courtCooper was remanded in custody with consent to bail and is due back at Cloverhill District Court on 14 April. (thejournal.ie)
- courtHe is expected to appear before Blanchardstown District Court No. 1 at 10.30am (garda.ie)
- courtThe man is expected to appear before Blanchardstown District Court No. 1 at 10.30am on Tuesday morning. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe man is expected to appear before Criminal Courts of Justice No. 1 at 10.30am, charged with a number of offences. (kildarenow.com)
- otherGardaí estimate the suspected controlled drugs are worth €830,000. (kildarenow.com)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Apr2026Man due to appear in court over suspected drugs seizure near Kildare border
The article reports that the man was charged and is due in court, gives the estimated value of the drugs as €830,000, and describes the two seizures of suspected ketamine on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.
accused, 20s, male - 7 Apr2026Man, 20s, due in court after €830,000 of suspected ketamine seizure
Reports the seizure of 14 kilos of ketamine across two days of searches and the man's upcoming court appearance on Tuesday.
suspect, 20s, male - 6 Apr2026Arrest after €830,000 worth of ketamine seized in Dublin
Adds the estimated value of the first seizure (€60,000), the value of the 13kg follow-up seizure (approximately €770,000), that the man is being held at a Dublin garda station, that the seizure was part of Operation Tara, and that the drugs will go to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
suspect, 20s, male - 6 Apr2026Operation Tara - €830,000 of Controlled Drugs Seized in Lucan, Co. Dublin, 5th and 6th April 2026
Original Garda press release detailing the seizure of 1kg ketamine (€60,000) on 5 April and 13kg ketamine (€770,000) on 6 April, and the arrest of a man in his 20s.
suspect, 20s, male - 6 Apr2026Court Appearance - Operation Tara - €830,000 of Controlled Drugs Seized in Lucan, Co. Dublin, 5th and 6th April 2026
Court appearance notice confirming the man has been charged and is due before Blanchardstown District Court No. 1 at 10.30am.
suspect, 20s, male - 1 Apr2026Man charged over ketamine seizure jumped from upstairs window when gardaí arrived, court hears
Adds the suspect's full name, age and address area, the bail hearing at Dublin District Court, the window escape, the car compartment, the €830,000 total and the next court date of 14 April at Cloverhill. The article says only 'on Saturday', so the incident date is inferred as Saturday 4 April 2026; the existing case gives 5 April.
accused, Conor Cooper, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Conor Cooper