Ireland Three women released without charge in Louth organised crime inquiry
Two women in their 20s were arrested on the morning of Thursday 18 May 2023 in Drogheda, Co Louth, as part of Operation Stratus, a Garda investigation into organised criminal activity and the sale and supply of drugs. Four addresses were searched in Co Louth and north Dublin, and two vehicles and suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of €9,000 were seized, with the drugs sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. A third woman, in her 40s, was arrested the following day, 19 May 2023. On 20 May 2023 gardaí reported that all three women had been released without charge, a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, and investigations are ongoing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested18 May
3 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Two women in their 20s were arrested in Drogheda, Co Louth, as part of an ongoing organised crime investigation.
- A third woman in her 40s was arrested in the same investigation and released without charge.
- Where
- The investigation concerns organised criminal activity and drug sale and supply in the Drogheda area of Co Louth.
- Four addresses were searched in Co Louth and north Dublin.
- When
- Gardaí from the Divisional Drug Unit carried out the search operation on the morning of Thursday 18 May 2023.
- The third woman was arrested on 19 May 2023, and all three women were reported released without charge on 20 May 2023.
- Investigation
- The arrests were made under Operation Stratus, an investigation into organised criminal activity and drug sale and supply in the Drogheda area.
- The suspected drugs are being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland.
- A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions about all three arrests.
- Gardaí say investigations are ongoing.
- Other details
- Two vehicles and suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of €9,000 were seized.
- Both women were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Garda station in County Louth.
- Charges
- The two women were arrested for offences contrary to Section 73 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, as amended.
- All three women were released without charge.
30 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTwo women were arrested as part of an ongoing organised crime investigation in Drogheda, Co Louth. (rte.ie)
- whatTwo vehicles and suspected cocaine worth an estimated €9,000 were seized. (rte.ie)
- whatTwo women were arrested in Drogheda as part of an ongoing investigation into organised criminal activity. (garda.ie)
- whatGardaí in Drogheda arrested two females as part of an ongoing investigation into organised criminal activity. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatThree women arrested in an ongoing organised crime investigation were released without charge. (rte.ie)
- whereFour addresses were searched in County Louth and North Dublin. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereThe investigation concerns organised crime in the Drogheda area of Co Louth. (rte.ie)
- whenGardaí from the Divisional Drug Unit conducted a search operation on the morning of Thursday 18 May 2023. (garda.ie)
- whenThe search operation took place on the morning of Thursday 18 May. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenTwo of the women were arrested on a Thursday. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe arrests were made under Operation Stratus, which investigates organised criminal activity and drug sale and supply in the Drogheda area. (rte.ie)
- investigationFour addresses were searched in Co Louth and north Dublin. (rte.ie, garda.ie)
- investigationThe suspected drugs are being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland. (rte.ie, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationGardaí say investigations are ongoing. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe arrests were part of Operation Stratus, which investigates organised criminal activity and the sale and supply of drugs in the Drogheda area. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe arrests were part of Operation Stratus, an investigation into organised criminal activity and drug sale and supply in the Drogheda area. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationGardaí said investigations are ongoing. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationThe arrests were part of Operation Stratus. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe seized drugs are being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland. (rte.ie)
- investigationA file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions about all three arrests. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe two women were arrested for offences contrary to Section 73 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, as amended. (garda.ie)
- chargeThe two women were arrested for offences under Section 73 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe two women are detained at a garda station in Co Louth. (rte.ie)
- otherTwo vehicles were seized during the search. (garda.ie)
- otherSuspected cocaine with an estimated street value of €9,000 was seized. (garda.ie, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe drugs are being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland. (garda.ie)
- otherBoth women were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Garda station in County Louth. (garda.ie, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherTwo vehicles were seized. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherA third woman in her 40s, arrested the day before, was also released without charge. (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 20 May2023Three women released in Louth organised crime inquiry
Reports that three women arrested as part of Operation Stratus were released without charge, and that a file is being prepared for the DPP. Also reports four addresses searched and cocaine and two vehicles seized.
suspect, 20s, femalesuspect, 20s, femalesuspect, 40s, female - 18 May2023Arrests made as part of investigation into organised criminal activity in Louth
Reports the Operation Stratus search, the four addresses searched in Louth and North Dublin, two seized vehicles, the suspected cocaine seizure, and the Section 73 arrests. No existing case covers this Drogheda operation.
suspect, 20s, femalesuspect, 20s, female - 18 May2023Arrests: Search Operation, Organised Criminal Activity, Co. Louth, 18th May 2023
Adds the Operation Stratus name, the search locations (Co Louth and North Dublin), the seizure of two vehicles, the estimated €9,000 cocaine seizure, the detention of both women under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, and that the drugs are with Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
suspect, 20s, femalesuspect, 20s, female - 18 May2023Two women arrested as part of organised crime inquiry
No existing case matches this Operation Stratus arrest. It reports two arrests, four address searches in Co Louth and north Dublin, and a cocaine seizure.
suspect, 20s, femalesuspect, 20s, female