Wednesday 28 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. 7024Drug trafficking (cocaine) · Co. Galway · 26 Nov 2023

Man in his 30s arrested after €56,000 cocaine seized in Galway city

Gardaí arrested a man in his 30s after searching a residence in the Castlepark area of Galway city on the evening of Sunday 26 November 2023, at about 8:20pm, and seized approximately €56,000 of suspected cocaine and €1,800 of suspected cannabis. The search was carried out as part of Operation Tara by the Galway Divisional Drug Unit. The man was detained at a Garda station in Galway under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996, and the Garda press release followed on 27 November 2023. The latest reports say the seized drugs are being sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, investigations are ongoing, and no charge has been reported.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested26 Nov
    3 reports
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí seized approximately €56,000 of suspected cocaine.
  • Gardaí seized approximately €1,800 of suspected cannabis during the same search.
  • A man in his 30s was arrested at the scene.
Where
The search took place at a residence in the Castlepark area of Galway city.
When
The search took place on the evening of Sunday 26 November 2023, at about 8:20pm.
Investigation
  • The search was carried out as part of Operation Tara by the Galway Divisional Drug Unit.
  • The seized drugs are being sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
  • Investigations are ongoing.
Other details
  • The man is detained at a Garda station in Galway under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
  • The Garda press release on the case was issued on 27 November 2023.
  • Operation Tara was launched in 2021 to tackle street-level drug dealing across the country.
Charges
No charge has been reported in the articles.
21 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí seized approximately €56,000 of suspected cocaine and arrested one man. (garda.ie)
  • whatApproximately €1,800 of suspected cannabis was also seized during the search. (garda.ie)
  • whatA man in his 30s was arrested at the scene. (garda.ie, galwaybeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized about €56,000 of suspected cocaine and arrested one man. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • whatSuspected cannabis worth €1,800 was also seized during the search. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized approximately €56,000 of suspected cocaine. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí also seized suspected cannabis worth €1,800. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe search took place at a residence in the Castlepark area of Galway city. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe search occurred at a residence in the Castlepark area of the city at about 8:20pm. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • whereThe raid took place on a premises in Galway city. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe search was at a residence in the Castlepark area of the city. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe search took place on the evening of Sunday 26 November 2023. (garda.ie, galwaybeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe search began at about 8:20pm. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe search was undertaken as part of Operation Tara by the Galway Divisional Drug Unit. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (garda.ie, galwaybeo.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie, galwaybeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe search was carried out as part of Operation Tara by the Galway Divisional Drug Unit. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • investigationThe raid was carried out as part of Operation Tara. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe seized substances are being sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man is being detained at a Garda station in Galway under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (garda.ie, galwaybeo.ie)
  • otherThe arrested man is detained at a Garda station in Galway under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Nov2023
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man arrested following €56,000 cocaine seizure in Galway

    First report of this Galway city raid, with the cocaine and cannabis amounts, the arrest and the Operation Tara context. Mentions a separate Kerry cocaine seizure from the previous week, which is not part of this case.

    suspect, 30s, male
  2. 27 Nov2023
    Arrestedgalwaybeo.ie, follow-up
    Galway Gardai swarm estate arresting man as sting uncovers €56,000 cocaine stash

    Adds the Garda statement: the search was part of Operation Tara by the Galway Divisional Drug Unit, the suspect is detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996, the cannabis seizure, and that the drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.

    suspect, 30s, male
  3. 26 Nov2023
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Operation Tara - Approximately €56,000 of Suspected Cocaine Seized and One Man Arrested, Galway City, Sunday 26th November 2023

    Official Garda press release, issued 27 November 2023, confirming the search, the arrest, the €1,800 cannabis seizure, the Forensic Science Ireland analysis, and the Section 2 detention.

    suspect, 30s, male