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. 6989Drug trafficking (suspected) · Co. Dublin · 3 Dec 2023

Pair arrested as €180,000 in cash seized in west Dublin search

On Sunday morning, 3 December 2023, gardaí from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau searched a residence in Dublin 22, west Dublin, as part of Operation Tara and an investigation into an organised crime group suspected of involvement in the sale and supply of drugs. They seized cash in excess of €180,000 and arrested a man and a woman, both in their 30s, in connection with the seizure. Both were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Garda stations in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. The pair were later released from custody without charge on 4 December 2023, a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, and investigations are ongoing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested3 Dec
    2 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 cash in excess of €180,000 during the search, although one report puts the amount at almost €200,000.
Where
The search took place at a residence in Dublin 22, in west Dublin.
When
The search took place on the morning of Sunday 3 December 2023.
Cause
The search targeted an organised crime group suspected of involvement in the sale and supply of drugs.
Investigation
  • The search was carried out by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau as part of Operation Tara and an ongoing investigation into a west Dublin organised crime group.
  • A man and a woman, both in their 30s, were arrested in connection with the cash seizure; one report's caption refers to two men.
  • The man and woman were released from custody without charge, as reported on 4 December 2023.
  • Gardaí said investigations into the seizure are ongoing.
Other details
  • Both people were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Garda stations in the Dublin Metropolitan Region.
  • A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Charges
Neither the man nor the woman has been charged.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatCash in excess of €180,000 was seized. (garda.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized over €180,000 in cash during the search. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized cash in excess of €180,000 during the search. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe search took place at a house in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereGardaí seized cash worth €180,000 in west Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe search operation took place on Sunday morning, 3 December 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe search took place on Sunday morning, 3 December 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe search took place on the morning of Sunday 3 December 2023. (dublinlive.ie)
  • causeThe search targeted an organised crime group involved in the sale and supply of drugs. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationA man and a woman, both in their 30s, were arrested in connection with the search. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe man and woman have been released from custody without charge. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe search was part of Operation Tara and an ongoing investigation into a west Dublin organised crime group. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said the investigation into the seizure is ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe search was part of Operation Tara. (dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeA man and a woman, both in their 30s, were arrested in connection with the seizure. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherA file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (garda.ie)
  • otherA man and a woman, both in their 30s, were arrested in connection with the cash seizure. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherBoth people were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Garda stations in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherBoth suspects are detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Garda stations in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. (dublinlive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Dec2023
    Arresteddublinlive.ie, first report
    Pair arrested as gardai seize €180k in cash following search in west Dublin

    Reports the search at a Dublin 22 residence as part of Operation Tara, the cash seizure of over €180,000, and the arrest of a man and a woman in their 30s, who are detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, female
  2. 3 Dec2023
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Two arrested and more than €180k seized by gardaí

    Reports a cash seizure of over €180,000 during a search of a house in Dublin, with a man and a woman arrested. The article links the search to Operation Tara and an investigation into a west Dublin organised crime group. The caption says two men were arrested, but the text says a man and a woman.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, female
  3. 3 Dec2023
    Othergarda.ie, follow-up
    Update - Operation Tara GNDOCB Seize €180,000 Cash and Arrests, West Dublin. 3rd December, 2023.

    Update on the 3 December 2023 Dublin 22 search: the man and woman arrested have been released without charge and a file is going to the DPP.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, female