Man in 60s charged after €500,000 cocaine found in lollipops at Dublin Airport
On 10 September 2026, Revenue officers assisted by the Ballymun Drugs Unit seized approximately 5 kg of cocaine with an estimated value of €500,000 concealed in bags of lollipops in the baggage of a passenger who had disembarked a flight from Brazil at Dublin Airport. Follow-up searches recovered €16,000 in cash and further controlled drugs valued at €14,500. A man in his 60s was arrested and charged in connection with the seizure. He appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ No. 4) on 11 September 2026, and the matter is now before the courts.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged11 Sep
- In court11 Sep
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Approximately 5 kg of cocaine with an estimated value of €500,000 was seized at Dublin Airport.
- The drugs were concealed within bags of lollipops in a passenger's baggage.
- Follow-up searches recovered €16,000 in cash and further controlled drugs valued at €14,500.
- Where
- The drugs were found in the baggage of a passenger who had disembarked a flight originating in Brazil at Dublin Airport.
- When
- The seizure took place on Thursday 10 September 2026.
- Investigation
- The seizure was carried out as part of GNECB Operation Skein by Revenue officers assisted by the Ballymun Drugs Unit.
- Investigations are ongoing.
- Charges
- A man in his 60s was arrested and charged with possession of controlled drugs.
- In court
- The man appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ No. 4) on Friday 11 September 2026.
- Other details
- Operation Skein investigates international criminal organisations which commit fraud worldwide and launder proceeds through networks of bank accounts in Ireland.
22 statements extracted from the articles
- whatApproximately 5 kg of cocaine with an estimated value of €500,000 was seized at Dublin Airport (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe drugs were concealed within bags of lollipops in a passenger's baggage (garda.ie)
- whatFollow-up searches recovered €16,000 in cash (garda.ie)
- whatFollow-up searches recovered further controlled drugs valued at €14,500 (garda.ie)
- whatThe cocaine was concealed within bags of lollipops. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatFollow-up searches recovered €16,000 in cash and further controlled drugs valued at €14,500. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatIn follow-up searches, €16,000 in cash was seized. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatIn follow-up searches, a further quantity of various controlled drugs valued at €14,500 was seized. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe drugs were found in the baggage of a passenger who had disembarked a flight originating in Brazil. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe drugs were found in the baggage of a passenger who had disembarked a flight that originated in Brazil. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe seizure took place on Thursday 10 September 2026 (garda.ie)
- whenThe seizure was made on Thursday, 10 September 2026. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- investigationRevenue officers were assisted by the Ballymun Drugs Unit (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing (garda.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- investigationOperation Skein investigates international criminal organisations which commit fraud worldwide and launder proceeds through networks of bank accounts in Ireland. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was part of GNECB Operation Skein. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationRevenue officers assisted by the Ballymun Drugs Unit carried out the seizure. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe suspect appeared before CCJ No. 4 on Friday 11 September 2026 (garda.ie)
- courtThe man appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Friday 11 September 2026. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- otherOne male aged in his 60s was arrested and charged (garda.ie)
- otherA man aged in his 60s was arrested and charged in connection with the investigation. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- otherOperation Skein investigates international criminal organisations which commit fraud worldwide and launder the proceeds through networks of bank accounts in Ireland. (dublinlive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 11 Sep2026Man, 60s, arrested after €500,000 worth of cocaine found in bags of lollipops
Initial arrest and charging following a €500,000 cocaine seizure at Dublin Airport under GNECB Operation Skein; man appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice on 11 September 2026.
suspect, 60s, male - 11 Sep2026Man, 60s, arrested after €500,000 worth of cocaine found in bags of lollipops
The man appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Friday 11 September 2026. The seizure was made as part of GNECB Operation Skein, with Revenue officers assisted by the Ballymun Drugs Unit. Operation Skein investigates international criminal organisations which commit fraud worldwide and launder proceeds through networks of bank accounts in Ireland.
suspect, 60s, male - 11 Sep202611/09/2026 Joint Operation - GNECB Operation Skein and Revenue: Arrest and Seizure, €500,000 Cocaine, Dublin Airport, 10th September 2026
The suspect appeared before CCJ No. 4 on 11 September 2026. The operation was GNECB Operation Skein carried out with Revenue and the Ballymun Drugs Unit. Follow-up searches recovered €16,000 cash and €14,500 in further controlled drugs. Gardaí stated they will not comment further as the matter is before the courts.
suspect, 60s, male