Ireland Three men charged over €10.1m cannabis seizure in Co Louth
Three men were charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and having it for sale or supply after 506kg of cannabis worth €10.1 million was seized from a unit in Newtownstalaban, Drogheda, Co Louth, in a joint Revenue and Garda operation on 30 January 2026. They were remanded in custody at Dundalk District Court on 1 February 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested30 Jan
2 reports - Chargednot reported
- In court30 Jan
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports34 statements extracted from the articles
- what506kg of cannabis was seized. (garda.ie)
- whatThe cannabis had an estimated value of €10,120,000. (garda.ie)
- whatCannabis worth an estimated €10 million was seized (irishtimes.com)
- what506kg of cannabis was seized in the raid (irishtimes.com)
- what506kg of cannabis was seized in a raid on a property in Co Louth. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatThe estimated value of the cannabis is €10.12 million. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe cannabis was valued at €10.1 million (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe search was of a premises in the Co. Louth area. (garda.ie)
- whereThe seizure took place at a property in Co Louth (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe cannabis was seized from a unit at Newtownstalaban, Drogheda (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe operation was conducted on Friday 30 January 2026. (garda.ie)
- whenThe raid took place on 30 January 2026 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe raid took place on Friday, 30 January 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe three men are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at Garda stations in Counties Louth and Dublin. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe operation was a joint effort by Revenue Customs Service and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe operation was part of Operation Tara, a Garda initiative targeting drug-dealing networks (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInvestigations into the drug trafficking are continuing (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe seizure was carried out in a joint operation by the Irish Revenue Customs Service and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was carried out as a joint operation by Revenue Customs Service and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe three men have been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeThe arrests were made under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 in relation to facilitating and enhancing drug trafficking activities for an organised crime group. (garda.ie)
- chargeEach of the three men was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and having the drug for sale or supply (irishtimes.com)
- courtThey are scheduled to appear before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court. (garda.ie)
- courtThe court appearance is on Saturday 31 January 2026 at approximately 6.30pm. (garda.ie)
- courtThe three men are to appear before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court on Saturday evening. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe three men appeared before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe defendants made no reply when the charges were put to them after caution (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Stephanie Coggans remanded all three in custody to appear via videolink on 4 February 2026 (irishtimes.com)
- courtEach of the accused was granted legal aid (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe operation was carried out under Operation TARA targeting organised crime activity. (garda.ie)
- otherThe operation was a joint effort by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau and the Revenue Customs Service. (garda.ie)
- otherThree men, two in their 30s and one in his 50s, were arrested in connection with drug trafficking offences (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe men are detained at Garda stations in Louth and Dublin (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Feb2026Three men charged over €10.1m cannabis seizure in Co Louth
First report of the court appearance; identifies the three defendants, the 506kg/€10.1m seizure, the joint Revenue-Garda operation, and the remand to 4 February 2026.
accused, Graham Sommers, 37, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Graham Sommersaccused, Brian Coleman, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian Colemanaccused, 56, male, irish (judged from name) - 31 Jan2026Three charged over seizure of cannabis valued at more than €10m
Confirms the exact estimated value of €10.12 million, the ages of the three suspects (two in their 30s, one in his 50s), and that they are to appear before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court on Saturday evening.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 50s, male - 31 Jan2026Gardaí seize cannabis worth €10m after raid in Co Louth
Reports the initial seizure and arrests; confirms the operation was a joint Revenue Customs Service and Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau effort under Operation Tara, and that the three men are detained at Garda stations in Louth and Dublin.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 50s, male - 30 Jan2026Joint Operation, Gardaí and Revenue Customs Service Seize €10,120,000 of cannabis, Friday 30th January 2026
Garda press release confirming the arrest of three males (two in their 30s, one in his 50s) under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 in relation to facilitating and enhancing drug trafficking activities for an organised crime group, detained at Garda stations in Counties Louth and Dublin.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 50s, male - 30 Jan2026Court Appearance: Joint Operation, Gardaí and Revenue Customs Service Seize €10,120,000 of cannabis, Friday 30th January 2026
Confirms the three men have been charged and are due to appear before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court on 31 January 2026 at approximately 6.30pm; investigations are ongoing.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 50s, male