Sunday 1 November 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. 4004Possession of controlled drugs · Co. Sligo · 26 Jan 2026

Three charged with possession of controlled drugs in Sligo

As part of Operation Tara, Gardaí searched two residences in Sligo on 26 January 2026 and seized over €100,000 in cocaine and cannabis along with nearly €30,000 in cash. A woman in her 30s and a man in his 40s were arrested at a property in Sligo Town, and a man in his 50s was arrested at a residential property in Gurteen. All three were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 and have since been charged with possession of controlled drugs. They are due to appear before Tubbercurry District Court on 28 January 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged26 Jan
    3 reports
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Over €100,000 in suspected cocaine and cannabis, along with nearly €30,000 in cash, was seized from two properties in Sligo.
Where
The searches were conducted at a property in Sligo Town and a residential property in Gurteen, County Sligo.
When
The searches took place on 26 January 2026, reported as a Sunday by one source and a Monday by another.
Investigation
  • The searches were carried out under warrant by the Sligo/Leitrim Divisional Drugs Unit, assisted by the Armed Support Unit, as part of Operation Tara.
  • A woman in her 30s and a man in his 40s were arrested at the Sligo Town property, and a man in his 50s was arrested at the Gurteen property.
  • All three were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
Charges
All three arrested individuals have been charged with possession of controlled drugs.
In court
The three are due to appear before Tubbercurry District Court on 28 January 2026.
Other details
The seized drugs are being sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, and investigations are ongoing.
39 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSuspected cocaine with an estimated street value of €70,000 was seized at the first property. (garda.ie)
  • whatCannabis with a value of €12,900 was seized at the first property. (garda.ie)
  • whatJust under €20,000 in cash was seized at the first property. (garda.ie)
  • whatCannabis with an estimated street value of €20,000 was seized at the Gurteen property. (garda.ie)
  • whatCash totalling €7,350 was seized at the Gurteen property. (garda.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized over €100,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whatSuspected cocaine with an estimated street value of €70,000 was seized. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whatCannabis valued at €12,900 was seized. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whatJust under €20,000 in cash was seized. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whatCannabis with an estimated street value of €20,000 and cash totalling €7,350 were seized in the follow-up search. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whatSuspected cocaine with an estimated street value of €70,000 was seized in Sligo Town. (galwaydaily.com)
  • whatCannabis worth €12,900 and just under €20,000 in cash were seized in Sligo Town. (galwaydaily.com)
  • whatCannabis worth €20,000 and cash totalling €7,350 were seized in Gurteen. (galwaydaily.com)
  • whereThe search was conducted by members of Sligo/Leitrim Divisional Drugs Unit, assisted by the Armed Support Unit. (garda.ie)
  • whereA follow-up search was conducted at a residential property in Gurteen, Co Sligo. (garda.ie)
  • whereGardaí searched a property in Sligo town. (leitrimobserver.ie, galwaydaily.com)
  • whereA follow-up search took place at a residential property in Gurteen, County Sligo. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whereA follow-up search was carried out at a residential property in Gurteen, Co Sligo. (galwaydaily.com)
  • whenThe searches at two residences in Sligo took place on a Sunday. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • whenGardaí searched two residences in Sligo on Monday. (galwaydaily.com)
  • investigationGardaí carried out a search under warrant of two residences in Sligo on 26 January 2026 as part of an ongoing operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs. (garda.ie)
  • investigationA woman in her 30s and a man in his 40s were arrested at the scene and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (garda.ie)
  • investigationA man in his 50s was arrested at the Gurteen property and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe operation was part of an ongoing Operation Tara. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • investigationThe seized drugs are being sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • investigationThe search was part of an ongoing operation targeting drug sale and supply in the area. (galwaydaily.com)
  • investigationA woman (30s) and a man (40s) were arrested at the scene. (galwaydaily.com)
  • investigationA man (50s) was arrested and detained. (galwaydaily.com)
  • chargeAll three arrested individuals have been charged. (garda.ie)
  • chargeAll three arrested people have been charged. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • chargeThe three arrested people were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (galwaydaily.com)
  • chargeAll three have been charged. (galwaydaily.com)
  • courtThe three are due to appear before Tubbercurry District Court on 28 January 2026. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe three are due to appear before Tubbercurry District Court on Wednesday 28 January. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • courtThe three are due to appear before Tubbercurry District Court. (galwaydaily.com)
  • otherA woman in her 30s and a man in his 40s were arrested at the scene. (leitrimobserver.ie)
  • otherA man in his 50s was arrested after the follow-up search. (leitrimobserver.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Jan2026
    Chargedgalwaydaily.com, first report
    Three arrested in €103,000 cocaine and cannabis seizure - Galway Daily

    Names the two Sligo properties searched, the seizure values, the arrests of a woman (30s) and two men, and that all three have been charged and are due before Tubbercurry District Court.

    accused, 30s, femaleaccused, 40s, maleaccused, 50s, male
  2. 28 Jan2026
    Chargedleitrimobserver.ie, first report
    BREAKING: Sligo/Leitrim Gardaí seized over €100,000 worth of drugs in raid

    Original report of a Sligo drugs seizure with three arrests and charges. It has no link to the existing Operation Tara case about seven arrests on 16 February 2026, which is a different investigation.

    accused, 30s, femaleaccused, 40s, maleaccused, 50s, male
  3. 26 Jan2026
    Chargedgarda.ie, first report
    Operation Tara – Over €100,000 in Cocaine and Cannabis Seized and Three Arrests, Sligo, 26th January 2026

    Initial Garda press release reporting the Operation Tara searches, seizures and arrests in Sligo.

    suspect, 30s, femalesuspect, 40s, malesuspect, 50s, male