Ireland Case No. 20853Possession of cannabis for sale or supply · Co. Dublin · 26 May 2023
Personal trainer charged over €3.9m cannabis seizure in Dublin released on bail
Jamie Smith, a 26-year-old personal trainer, was arrested on Friday 26 May 2023 at Junction 5 of the M1 southbound after gardaí intercepted a vehicle in the Balbriggan area, Dublin, and seized 187kg of cannabis herb and 30kg of cannabis resin, estimated at €3.92 million. He was charged with possessing cannabis resin and herb for sale or supply, and on Monday 29 May 2023 he appeared at Dublin District Court, where bail was set at €16,000 despite a garda objection. Reports dated 2 June 2023 say he was released on bail pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested26 May
4 reports - Charged2 Jun
- In court29 May
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí seized 187kg of cannabis herb and 30kg of cannabis resin, estimated at €3.92 million.
- Sources describe the vehicle as a rental van, while some describe it as a car, and Smith was its sole occupant.
- Where
- The vehicle was intercepted in the Balbriggan area, and Smith was arrested at Junction 5 of the M1 southbound.
- When
- The vehicle was intercepted shortly after 7pm on Friday 26 May 2023.
- Investigation
- The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, supported by the Special Crime Task Force, carried out the operation as part of Operation TARA into organised crime.
- The drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, and investigations are ongoing.
- A file will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions recommending further charges.
- Other details
- A man in his 20s was arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a north Dublin garda station, where he could be held for up to seven days.
- Smith denied knowing what was in the vehicle and said he did not know the contents of the boxes or packages and was simply driving the van.
- Charges
- Jamie Smith, 26, of Donabate, Dublin, was charged with possessing cannabis resin and herb for sale or supply.
- In court
- Smith appeared before Judge Cephas Power at Dublin District Court on Monday 29 May 2023, and Detective Garda Liam Aherne objected to bail over the seriousness of the case and flight risk.
- Bail was set at €16,000, with a €1,000 bond and €15,000 approval of which €10,000 must be lodged, and conditions include daily signing at a garda station, surrendering his identity card and not applying for a passport.
- The case will be dealt with on indictment, meaning it will go to a higher court.
- Reports say Smith was released on bail pending DPP directions, but sources differ on his next appearance, with one saying he was due back on Friday and another saying he was to appear again in September.
72 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí seized 187 kilogrammes of cannabis herb and 30 kilogrammes of cannabis resin. (garda.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- what187 kilograms of cannabis herb and 30 kilograms of cannabis resin were seized from the car. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe combined value of the seized drugs is estimated at €3.92 million. (irishmirror.ie)
- what187kg of cannabis herb and 30kg of cannabis resin were seized. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe cannabis was valued at an estimated €3.92 million. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA man was arrested after cannabis worth €3.9m was seized from a vehicle in north Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe combined value of the drugs seized is estimated at €3.92 million. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatGardaí intercepted a van transporting just over €3.9 million worth of cannabis in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe seizure contained 187kg of cannabis herb and 30kg of cannabis resin, estimated at €3,920,000. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA personal trainer was charged over a seizure of just over €3.9m worth of cannabis in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí stopped a rental van driven by the accused, who was its sole occupant. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí found 187 kg of cannabis herb and 30 kg of cannabis resin, estimated at €3,920,000. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereA vehicle was intercepted in the Balbriggan area. (garda.ie)
- whereThe car was intercepted in the Balbriggan area. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe vehicle was intercepted in the Balbriggan area. (irishtimes.com)
- whereGardaí stopped the vehicle in the Balbriggan area. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe van was intercepted in Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
- whereSmith was arrested at Junction 5 of the M1 southbound. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe arrest took place at Junction five of the M1 southbound. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe operation took place on Friday 26 May 2023. (garda.ie)
- whenThe vehicle was intercepted shortly after 7pm. (garda.ie)
- whenThe car was stopped on Friday evening, 26 May 2023, shortly after 7pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe vehicle was intercepted shortly after 7pm on a Friday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe operation was carried out on Friday, before the article was published on 27 May 2023. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenSmith was arrested on Friday at Junction five of the M1 southbound. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe accused was arrested on 26 May. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe operation was part of ongoing investigations into organised crime under Operation TARA. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe drugs will be sent to FSI for analysis. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing and further updates will follow. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe operation was part of ongoing investigations under Operation TARA targeting organised crime. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí said investigations are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe operation was part of ongoing investigations targeting organised crime. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau, supported by the Special Crime Task Force, carried out the operation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe drugs were to be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe operation was carried out by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau, supported by the Special Crime Task Force. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe drugs will be sent to FSI for analysis and investigations are ongoing. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí found 187kg of cannabis herb and 30kg of cannabis resin in 11 cardboard boxes and two sacks. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe estimated value of the cannabis was €3,920,000. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationA file will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions recommending further charges. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationA file will be submitted to the DPP recommending further charges. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeSmith was charged with possessing cannabis resin and herb for sale or supply. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe accused is charged with possessing cannabis resin and herb for sale or supply. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtSmith appeared before Judge Cephas Power at Dublin District Court and had bail set at €16,000. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe detective objected to bail due to the seriousness of the case and flight risk fears. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case will be dealt with on indictment, meaning it will go to a higher court. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtBail conditions include signing on daily at a garda station, surrendering his identity card and not applying for a passport. (thejournal.ie)
- courtSmith appeared before Judge Cephas Power at Dublin District Court on the Monday, where bail was set at €16,000. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSmith was remanded in custody with consent to bail and was due to appear again on Friday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge set bail with a bond of €1,000 and approval of €15,000, of which €10,000 must be lodged. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBail was set at €16,000 and the accused was held pending a €10,000 lodgement. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe accused was released to appear again in September. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceSmith was remanded in custody with consent to bail. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe combined estimated value of the drugs is €3.92 million. (garda.ie)
- otherOne male in his 20s was arrested. (garda.ie)
- otherThe man was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Garda Station in North Dublin. (garda.ie)
- otherHe can be held for up to seven days. (garda.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherA young man in his 20s was arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man can be held for up to seven days. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- otherA man in his 20s was arrested in connection with the seizure. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe arrested man was brought to a north Dublin garda station for questioning under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA man in his 20s was arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Garda station in North Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherSmith denied knowing what was in the vehicle. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí stopped the rental van driven by Smith, who was its sole occupant. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe suspected drugs have yet to be analysed. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherSmith said he did not know the contents of the boxes or packages and that he was simply driving the van. (thejournal.ie)
- otherSmith is a personal trainer of Corballis Cottage, Donabate, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí described the seizure as a big loss to the criminal group. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSmith told gardaí he did not know the contents of the boxes or packages. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused denied knowing what was in the vehicle. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe accused maintained he did not know the contents of the boxes or packages and said he was simply driving the van. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí described the operation as targeting an organised crime group trafficking drugs in north Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 2 Jun2023Personal trainer charged over €3.9m cannabis seizure is released on bail
Reports the bail hearing and release of the accused, the court details of the seizure, and that a file will go to the DPP recommending further charges.
accused, Jamie Smith, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jamie Smith - 29 May2023Personal trainer charged after gardaí intercept van transporting €3.9m worth of cannabis
Adds the court appearance at Dublin District Court on the Monday, bail terms, the weight and value of the seizure, the accused's denial of knowledge, and the plan to submit a file to the DPP.
accused, Jamie Smith, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jamie Smith - 29 May2023Personal trainer charged over €3.9 million worth of cannabis found in rental van
Adds the court appearance at Dublin District Court before Judge Cephas Power, bail terms, the drug weight and value, the detective's objection to bail, the planned DPP file and the accused's account of the van's contents.
accused, Jamie Smith, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jamie Smith - 27 May2023Man arrested after whopping €3.9m cannabis seized from vehicle in north Dublin
Reports the arrest of a man in his 20s, the Balbriggan location, the weights of cannabis herb and resin seized, the Garda units involved and his detention under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. Does not name the man and does not say he was charged.
suspect, 20s, male - 27 May2023Man arrested after cannabis valued at almost €4m seized in north Co Dublin
Adds the Balbriggan interception location, the weights of herb and resin, the valuation of €3.92 million, the National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau involvement, and the arrest and detention of a man in his 20s under Section 2. It does not name the arrested man or report a charge.
suspect, 20s, male - 27 May2023Gardaí stop car in Dublin and find almost €4m worth of drugs
Adds the interception location in the Balbriggan area, the seizure weights (187 kg of cannabis herb and 30 kg of cannabis resin), the Operation TARA context, the Section 2 detention and the man's age range. Does not name him.
suspect, 20s, male - 26 May2023Operation TARA - Cannabis worth over €3.9 million seized and one person arrested – GNDOCB Operation North County Dublin 26th May 2023
Official garda.ie press release on the Operation TARA cannabis seizure. It gives no names, but the date, location, quantities and value match existing case 20853. It confirms the arrest and detention of a man in his 20s under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996, and says the drugs will be sent to FSI for analysis.
suspect, 20s, male