Thursday 29 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. 10914Organised crime and drugs (under investigation) · 16 Feb 2026

Seven arrested in Operation Tara drugs and organised crime investigation

Operation Tara, led by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau with regional crime and drug units, began on Monday 16 February 2026 and targets an organised criminal group suspected of serious drug-related intimidation attacks nationally. Gardaí searched 16 residential and business premises and seized 12 vehicles, €32,668 in cash and 2kg of cannabis. Three men and a woman were arrested on Monday under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 as amended and were released without charge pending a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions. On Thursday, three more men were arrested under Sections 71A and 72 of the same Act and were detained at garda stations in Dublin and the midlands, and investigations are ongoing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested19 Feb
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Operation Tara is led by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau with help from regional crime and drug units.
When
The operation commenced on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Where
The operation involved searching 16 residential and business premises.
Cause
The operation targets a criminal organisation suspected of carrying out serious drug-related intimidation attacks nationally.
Investigation
  • The operation targets organised crime, and the Kilkenny and Carlow regional units took part in the ongoing investigations.
  • Investigations are ongoing.
Charges
  • Three men and one woman were arrested on Monday under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 as amended.
  • Three more men were arrested on Thursday under Sections 71A and 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 as amended.
Other details
  • The four people arrested on Monday were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 and Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at garda stations nationally.
  • The three men and the woman were released without charge pending a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
  • The three men arrested on Thursday are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at garda stations in Dublin and the midlands.
  • During the search operation, 12 vehicles, €32,668 in cash and 2kg of cannabis were seized.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whenThe operation commenced on Monday, 16 February 2026. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • causeThe operation targets a criminal organisation suspected of carrying out serious drug-related intimidation attacks nationally. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • investigationOperation Tara is led by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau with help from regional crime and drug units. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • investigationThe operation targets organised crime. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • investigationThe operation involved searching 16 residential and business premises. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeThe Monday arrests were made under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 as amended. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeThree more men were arrested on Thursday under Sections 71A and 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 as amended. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThree men and one woman were arrested on Monday. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherFour people were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 and Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at garda stations nationally. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe three men and the woman were released without charge pending a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe three men arrested on Thursday are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at garda stations in Dublin and the midlands. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • other12 vehicles were seized during the search operation. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • other€32,668 in cash was seized during the search operation. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • other2kg of cannabis was seized during the search operation. (kilkennypeople.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Feb2026
    Arrestedkilkennypeople.ie, first report
    Seven arrested in major operation involving Kilkenny garda and drugs unit

    First report of this operation. It gives the start date, the number of premises searched, the arrests and detentions, the seizures, and the release of three men and a woman without charge.

    suspect, 30s or 40s, malesuspect, 30s or 40s, malesuspect, 30s or 40s, malesuspect, 30s, femalesuspect, 30s or 40s, malesuspect, 30s or 40s, malesuspect, 30s or 40s, male