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. 20440Drugs offence (possession; MDMA and cannabis seizure) · Co. Dublin

MDMA and cannabis worth €640,000 seized in Dublin raid, two men arrested

On 5 July 2023, Revenue officers seized about 2kg of MDMA worth an estimated €120,000 and about 26kg of herbal cannabis worth an estimated €520,000 in two joint operations in the Dublin region, a total of €640,000. A man aged 29 (described in one report as in his 20s) was arrested over the MDMA seizure and detained at a garda station in north County Dublin. A man aged 30 (described in one report as in his 30s) was arrested over the cannabis seizure and detained at a garda station in west Dublin. The 29-year-old was later released without charge and a file is to go to the DPP, and as of 6 July the 30-year-old remained detained while investigations continued.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested5 Jul
    2 reports
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Revenue officers seized about 2kg of MDMA with an estimated street value of €120,000.
  • Revenue officers seized about 26kg of herbal cannabis with an estimated street value of €520,000.
  • The total value of the drugs seized was €640,000.
When
The operations took place on 5 July 2023.
Where
  • The operations were part of Operation Tara, an intelligence-led operation targeting suspected organised crime in the Dublin region.
  • The 29-year-old was detained at a garda station in north County Dublin.
  • The 30-year-old was detained at a garda station in west Dublin.
Investigation
  • Two joint operations were carried out by the Revenue Customs Service, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Balbriggan Garda Drugs Unit.
  • A man aged 29 (described in one report as in his 20s) was arrested in connection with the MDMA seizure.
  • A man aged 30 (described in one report as in his 30s) was arrested in relation to the herbal cannabis seizure.
  • The 30-year-old remained detained as of 6 July 2023, and investigations are ongoing.
Other details
  • Both men were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
  • The seizures were made as part of two separate operations.
Charges
The 29-year-old was released without charge, and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
22 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatRevenue officers seized about 2kg of MDMA with an estimated street value of €120,000. (garda.ie)
  • whatRevenue officers seized about 26kg of herbal cannabis with an estimated street value of €520,000. (garda.ie)
  • what2kgs of MDMA were seized (dublinlive.ie)
  • what26kgs of herbal cannabis were seized (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe MDMA had an estimated value of €120,000 (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe herbal cannabis was worth €520,000 (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe total value of the drugs seized was €640,000 (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatA man in his 20s was arrested in connection with the MDMA seizure (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatA man in his 30s was arrested in relation to the cannabis seizure (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe operations were part of Operation Tara and an intelligence-led operation targeting suspected organised crime in the Dublin region. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe man in his 20s was detained at a garda station in north County Dublin (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe man in his 30s is currently detained at a garda station in west Dublin (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe operations took place on 5 July 2023. (garda.ie)
  • investigationTwo joint operations were carried out by the Revenue Customs Service, the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau and the Balbriggan Garda Drugs Unit. (garda.ie)
  • investigationA man aged 29 was arrested in relation to the MDMA seizure. (garda.ie)
  • investigationA man aged 30 was arrested in relation to the herbal cannabis seizure. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe man in his 20s was released and a file was prepared for the DPP (dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeThe 29-year-old has since been released without charge, and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe 29-year-old was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 at a Garda station in North County Dublin. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe 30-year-old remains detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Garda station in West Dublin. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe seizures were made as part of two separate operations (dublinlive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Jul2023
    Arresteddublinlive.ie, first report
    MDMA and cannabis worth over €600k seized as two arrested in Dublin raid

    Reports the seizure of 2kg MDMA and 26kg cannabis totalling €640,000 and the arrest of two men in connection with the separate seizures. One man in his 20s was released with a file prepared for the DPP; a man in his 30s remains detained in west Dublin.

    suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, male
  2. 5 Jul2023
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Joint Operation €640,000 Drug Seizure - Revenue Customs Service & An Garda Síochána, Dublin Region. 5th July, 2023.

    Gives the ages of both arrested men, names the Balbriggan Garda Drugs Unit, and reports that the 29-year-old was released without charge with a file going to the DPP while the 30-year-old remains detained.

    suspect, 29, malesuspect, 30, male