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. 6474Drug possession and possession with intent to supply · Co. Dublin · 22 Feb 2024

Three men charged over Dublin drug seizure

On Thursday 22 February 2024, Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau officers intercepted vehicles in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, and seized cannabis, MDMA, cocaine, ecstasy tablets and cannabis jellies with an estimated street value of €3 million, subject to analysis (earlier reports gave €2 million). Three men were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking: Gary Hanley, 35, Sean Mackey, 53, and Jie Liu, 39, according to the Irish Mirror, while Gardaí gave the middle man's age as 40. Gardaí charged the three men with unlawful possession of 100kg of cannabis and having drugs for sale or supply, and they appeared before a late sitting of Dublin District Court on Saturday 24 February 2024, where Hanley was refused bail and Mackey and Liu were granted bail subject to €25,000 independent sureties. The latest development is that the men are due to appear next at Cloverhill District Court, and investigations are ongoing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested22 Feb
    4 reports
  3. Charged22 Feb
  4. In court24 Feb
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí seized cannabis, MDMA, cocaine, ecstasy tablets and cannabis jellies, with an estimated street value of €3 million subject to analysis (earlier reports gave €2 million).
Where
  • Officers intercepted two vehicles, reported as a van, shortly after 5pm in the Blanchardstown area of Dublin 15.
  • A residential address in Blanchardstown was searched, and reports say about €1 million of other suspected drugs was found in an apartment in West End Villas, Dublin 14.
When
The operation took place on Thursday 22 February 2024.
Investigation
  • The seizure was made under Operation Tara as part of ongoing intelligence-led investigations into organised crime, and all drugs are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland.
  • Investigations are ongoing, and a comprehensive file is to be drafted for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Other details
  • The three arrested men are named by the Irish Mirror as Gary Hanley, 35, Sean Mackey, 53, and Jie Liu, 39, while Gardaí gave the ages as 35, 40 and 53.
  • The three men were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at a Garda station in Dublin.
  • The Irish Times reports that one of the arrested men is an associate of the Hutch family and that one of the other suspects is from China.
  • A detective said the case related to large scale drug distribution and that more serious charges could follow.
Cause
The three men were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking.
Charges
Gardaí charged the three men with unlawful possession of 100kg of cannabis and having the drugs for sale or supply; these are allegations.
In court
  • The men were due before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Saturday 24 February 2024 at 4.30pm, and reports say they appeared before a late sitting of Dublin District Court that day.
  • Hanley was refused bail, and Mackey and Liu were granted bail subject to €25,000 independent sureties, although one report said all three were remanded in custody.
  • The men will next appear at Cloverhill District Court.
47 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí seized drugs worth €3 million under Operation Tara. (garda.ie)
  • whatGardaí are questioning three men arrested and detained over a seizure of cannabis, MDMA, cocaine, ecstasy tablets and cannabis jellies. (garda.ie)
  • whatCannabis, MDMA, cocaine, ecstasy tablets and cannabis jellies with an estimated street value of €2 million were seized. (garda.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized drugs estimated to be worth some €2 million. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGardaí found quantities of cannabis, MDMA, cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis jellies. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThree men were arrested in an operation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau in west Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSeized drugs included cannabis, MDMA, cocaine, ecstasy tablets and cannabis jellies, worth some €2 million. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí intercepted a van carrying about €2 million of suspected cannabis. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe court appearance was due to take place in Dublin. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe three men are detained at a Garda station in Dublin. (garda.ie)
  • whereOfficers intercepted two vehicles shortly after 5.00pm in the Blanchardstown area of Dublin 15. (garda.ie)
  • whereGardaí intercepted two vehicles in the Blanchardstown area. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereGardaí intercepted two vehicles shortly after 5pm in the Blanchardstown area of Dublin 15. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereGardaí found about €1 million of other suspected drugs in an apartment in West End Villas, Blanchardstown, Dublin 14. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe operation took place on Thursday 22 February 2024. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe three men were arrested by GNDOCB officers on a Thursday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe seizure was made under Operation Tara by GNDOCB. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe operation was part of ongoing intelligence-led investigations into organised crime under Operation Tara. (garda.ie)
  • investigationA coordinated planned search of a residential address in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 was also conducted. (garda.ie)
  • investigationAll the seized drugs are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí carried out a co-ordinated search of a residential address in the same area. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe searches were part of investigations targeting organised crime activity under Operation Tara. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí also carried out a planned search of a house in the Blanchardstown area. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe operation was carried out under Operation Tara. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA comprehensive file is to be drafted for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeGardaí have charged three males in connection with the seizure. (garda.ie)
  • chargeThree males aged 35, 40 and 53 were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking. (garda.ie)
  • chargeThree men aged 35, 40 and 53 were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe three men were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe men were charged with unlawful possession of 100kg of cannabis and having the drugs for sale or supply. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe three men were due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin on Saturday 24 February 2024 at 4.30pm. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe men were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at a Dublin Garda station on Thursday night. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe three men appeared before a late sitting of Dublin District Court on a Saturday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtGary Hanley was refused bail after his partner pleaded that he was an innocent family man. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtSean Mackey and Jie Liu were granted bail, subject to approval of €25,000 independent sureties. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe men will next appear at Cloverhill District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe street value of the contraband seized is estimated at €3 million, subject to analysis. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe three men are detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe operation is called Operation Tara. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe three men were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at a Garda station in Dublin. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe Irish Times understands one of the three men arrested is an associate of the Hutch family. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe Irish Times understands one of the other suspects being held is from China. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherInvestigations remain ongoing. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe three suspects were held at a garda station under anti-drugs legislation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe 35-year-old suspect has more than 20 convictions and is well known to gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe detective said the case related to large scale drug distribution. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Feb2024
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Three appear in court in connection with multi-million-euro Dublin drug seizure

    First report on the case. Adds the names and ages of the three men, the apartment location, the court appearances, bail and remand details, and the detective's statements that further charges were expected and the case related to large scale drug distribution.

    accused, Gary Hanley, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gary Hanleyaccused, Sean Mackey, 53, male, Irish, named, irishSean Mackeyaccused, Jie Liu, 39, male, Irish, named, irishJie Liu
  2. 22 Feb2024
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Criminal with close Hutch gang links arrested over multi-million drugs seizure

    Reports the arrest of three men (aged 35, 40 and 53) rather than charges, and names the operation as Operation Tara. It describes the seizure as two intercepted cars and a house search, where the existing case mentions a van and an apartment. The Irish Mirror describes the 35-year-old as Hutch-aligned with more than 20 convictions. No names are given.

    suspect, 35, malesuspect, 40, malesuspect, 53, male
  3. 22 Feb2024
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Hutch associate among three men arrested after €2m drug seizure in Dublin

    Adds the arrest details, the Garda operation under Operation Tara, the range of drugs found, the detention under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, and the report that one suspect is a Hutch associate and one is from China. Names are not given in this article.

    suspect, 35, malesuspect, 40, malesuspect, 53, male
  4. 22 Feb2024
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    GNDOCB Seize €2 Million Worth of Drugs under Operation Tara, 22nd February 2024

    Garda press release on the same operation as the existing case. It gives the operation name (Operation Tara), the search of a residential address, the drug types, the ages of the three arrested men and the detention under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. It does not mention charges.

    suspect, 35, malesuspect, 40, malesuspect, 53, male
  5. 22 Feb2024
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Update - GNDOCB Seize €3 Million Worth of Drugs under Operation Tara, 22nd February 2024

    Update that the street value of the seizure is now estimated at €3 million, gives the ages of the three detained men (35, 40 and 53), and states they remain detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, with investigations ongoing.

    suspect, 35, malesuspect, 40, malesuspect, 53, male
  6. 22 Feb2024
    Chargedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Court Appearance - GNDOCB Seize €3 Million Worth of Drugs under Operation Tara, 22nd February 2024

    Garda press release confirming three men aged 35, 40 and 53 have been charged over the seizure and are due before the Criminal Courts of Justice on 24 February 2024. The article names no one. The age of the middle accused (40) differs from the 39-year-old named in the existing case, which may be a different person or an error.

    accused, 35, maleaccused, 40, maleaccused, 53, male