Saturday 31 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. 20833Drugs offence (possession for sale or supply) · Co. Dublin · 3 Jun 2023

Man granted bail after being charged with €180k worth of drugs

Gardaí from the Dublin Crime Response Team searched a house in Tallaght, South Dublin, on the evening of Saturday 3 June 2023 and seized suspected cannabis, cocaine and MDMA worth about €182,000, along with €5,655 in cash and seven high-end watches. A man in his 20s was arrested, and Lee Morgan was charged with unlawfully possessing cocaine, cannabis, MDMA and ketamine. Gardaí objected to bail citing flight risk, but on 5 June 2023 Morgan was granted bail with a €1,000 bond, a travel ban and a €5,000 independent surety that had yet to be approved. He was most recently ordered to appear at Cloverhill District Court on a Thursday, pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested3 Jun
    4 reports
  3. Charged3 Jun
    3 reports
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Suspected cannabis herb (€122,000), cocaine (€58,000) and MDMA (€2,400) were seized, with a combined estimated value of €182,400.
  • Some reports give the total value as €182,000 and the headline gives €180,000.
  • €5,655 in cash and seven high-end watches were also seized, though some reports say over €5,000 in cash.
Where
The search took place at a residential house in the Tallaght area, described as South Dublin or Tallaght, Co Dublin.
When
The search took place on the evening of Saturday 3 June 2023.
Cause
The search was part of ongoing Dublin Crime Response Team operations targeting the sale and supply of illicit drugs in the Dublin region, reported as Operation Tara.
Investigation
  • A man in his 20s was arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Dublin Garda station.
  • The seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, and investigations are ongoing.
Charges
Lee Morgan was charged with unlawfully possessing cocaine, cannabis, MDMA and ketamine; one account says he was charged with having the drugs for sale or supply in his room on 3 June, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act.
In court
  • Morgan was due before Court 2 of the Criminal Courts of Justice on Monday 5 June 2023 at 10.30am.
  • Gardaí objected to bail, citing concerns about flight risk.
  • Morgan was granted bail with a €1,000 bond and a €5,000 independent surety, which had yet to be approved.
  • Legal aid was granted to Morgan, and he was ordered to appear at Cloverhill District Court on a Thursday pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Other details
Morgan's bail conditions include a travel ban, a bar on applying for a new passport or travel documents, staying in Dublin and out of Dublin Airport, and signing on daily at a garda station.
59 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDrugs with an estimated value of over €182,000, including cannabis, cocaine and MDMA, were seized. (garda.ie)
  • whatSuspected cannabis herb worth €122,000, cocaine worth €58,000 and MDMA worth €2,400 were seized. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized suspected drugs worth over €182,000. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSuspected cannabis herb worth €122,000 was seized. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCocaine worth €58,000 was seized. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whatMDMA worth €2,400 was seized. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whatCannabis, cocaine and MDMA were seized, along with €5,655 in cash and seven high-end watches. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatA man aged in his 20s was arrested following the search. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized more than €182,000 of suspected drugs. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSuspected cannabis worth €122,000 was seized. (irishtimes.com)
  • what€5,655 in cash was seized. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSeven high-end watches were seized. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDrugs with an estimated value of €182,000 were seized in South Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatOver €5,000 in cash and a number of high value watches were also seized. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMorgan was charged with unlawfully possessing cocaine, cannabis, MDMA and ketamine. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe seizure was in South Dublin. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe search took place at a residential premises in the Tallaght area. (garda.ie)
  • whereGardaí stormed a house in Tallaght, Co Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereGardaí seized drugs worth €182,000 following a search in Tallaght. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe search was at a house in the Tallaght area. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereGardaí from the Dublin Crime Response Team stormed a house in Tallaght. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe drugs seizure took place in Tallaght, Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe man was arrested on Saturday evening, 3 June 2023. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe search took place on the evening of Saturday 3 June 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe search of the house took place on Saturday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe search took place on Saturday evening. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe search took place on Saturday. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenMorgan was arrested on the Saturday before the court hearing. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe arrest was part of a search operation and drugs seizure by the Dublin Crime Response Team. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe search was part of ongoing operations by the DCRT targeting the sale and supply of illicit drugs in the Dublin region. (garda.ie)
  • investigationA man in his 20s was arrested and is being detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Dublin Garda station. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationAll the seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe search was part of ongoing operations by the Dublin Crime Response Team targeting drug sales and supply in the Dublin region. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe search was conducted as part of Operation Tara. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for further analysis. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations remain ongoing. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said investigations are ongoing. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe search was part of ongoing DCRT operations targeting the sale and supply of illicit drugs in the Dublin region. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said more than €5,000 was found in the accused's bedroom. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí objected to bail, citing flight risk concerns. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeGardaí charged the man, who is in his 20s. (garda.ie)
  • chargeThe man was arrested on suspicion of possessing the drugs. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeGardaí charged the man, aged in his 20s. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeMorgan was charged with having the drugs for sale or supply in his room on 3 June, contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe man is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice (Court 2) on Monday 5 June 2023 at 10.30am. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe man was due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice (Court 2) on Monday 5 June 2023 at 10.30am. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMorgan was granted bail with a travel ban. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge set bond at €1,000, with a €5,000 independent surety yet to be approved. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtMorgan was ordered to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtMorgan must not apply for a new passport or travel documents and must remain in Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtLegal aid was granted to Morgan. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherCash of €5,655 and seven high-end watches were also seized. (garda.ie)
  • other€5,655 in cash and seven high-end watches were seized. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man is detained at a Garda station in Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe search was part of continuing operations targeting drug sale and supply in the Dublin region. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe man was arrested and is being detained at a Dublin Garda station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMorgan must stay out of Dublin Airport and must sign on daily at a garda station. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 5 Jun2023
    Chargedthejournal.ie, first report
    Man granted bail after being charged with €180k worth of drugs

    First report of this case. Covers Lee Morgan's charge, the drugs seized, and his bail hearing at Dublin District Court on 5 June 2023.

    accused, Lee Morgan, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Lee Morgan
  2. 5 Jun2023
    Chargedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Court due for man in 20s arrested for cannabis, cocaine and MDMA in Dublin

    First report of this seizure. Adds the breakdown of the drugs, the cash and watches seized, the DCRT investigation context, the charge and the court date.

    suspect, 20s, male
  3. 4 Jun2023
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man (20s) held after suspected drugs worth €182,000 seized in Dublin

    Irish Times report giving a higher seizure total (€182,000 rather than €180,000), the estimated value of each drug, the cash and watches seized, the forensic analysis of the drugs, and the detention under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. It does not name the man.

    suspect, 20s, male
  4. 4 Jun2023
    Arresteddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Gardai seize €182,000 worth of drugs in Dublin

    Gives the Operation Tara link, the cash and watches seized, and that the man in his 20s was arrested and detained at a Dublin Garda station. Does not name him or mention a charge.

    suspect, 20s, male
  5. 4 Jun2023
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Cocaine, MDMA and cannabis found as gardaí storm house in Dublin

    Adds the drug breakdown (cannabis herb, cocaine and MDMA values), €5,655 in cash and seven high-end watches seized, and that the man is detained under Section 2. No charge is reported in this article, and the man is not named.

    suspect, 20s, male
  6. 3 Jun2023
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Operation Tara - Over €182,000 Suspected Cannabis, Cocaine and MDMA Seized, One Man Arrested, South Dublin, Saturday 3rd June 2023

    Official garda.ie press release confirming the Operation Tara search, the seized items and values, and the arrest of a man in his 20s. It does not name him and does not report a charge.

    suspect, 20s, male
  7. 3 Jun2023
    Chargedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Court Appearance: Over €182,000 Suspected Cannabis, Cocaine and MDMA Seized, South Dublin, Saturday 3rd June 2023

    Garda press release confirming the charge and the court date of 5 June 2023 at 10.30am in Court 2 of the Criminal Courts of Justice. It does not name the man or give the estimated value of the drugs.

    accused, 20s, male