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. 21317Drugs offence (cocaine and cannabis seizure) · Co. Westmeath · 28 Apr 2023

Two men arrested after drugs worth €100,000 seized in Westmeath

On Friday 28 April 2023, gardaí searched a domestic residence in Co Westmeath under Operation Tara and recovered an estimated €56,500 of suspected cocaine and €44,000 of cannabis, a total estimated value of €100,000. Two men, both in their 20s, were arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. One man was released from custody and a file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The latest development is that the second man was charged and was due to appear before Mullingar District Court on Saturday 29 April 2023.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged28 Apr
    4 reports
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí recovered an estimated €56,500 of suspected cocaine and €44,000 of cannabis.
Where
The search was carried out at a domestic residence in Co Westmeath.
When
The search and arrests took place on Friday 28 April 2023.
Investigation
  • The arrests were made under Operation Tara as part of an ongoing investigation into drug sale and supply in the Westmeath region.
  • Two men, both in their 20s, were arrested in connection with the search.
  • The search was carried out by gardaí from the Mullingar Divisional Drugs Unit, the Mullingar Detective Unit, members from Delvin and Rochfortbridge Garda Stations and the Garda Dog Unit.
  • One man was released from custody and a file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
  • Investigations are ongoing.
Charges
  • Both men were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
  • The second man was charged.
In court
The second man was due to appear before Mullingar District Court on Saturday 29 April 2023.
Other details
  • The seizure was part of Operation Tara, which aims to tackle street-level dealing and the national and international supply of controlled substances.
  • Reports of the seizure were published on 29 April 2023.
30 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí recovered an estimated €56,500 of suspected cocaine and €44,000 of cannabis. (garda.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • whatSuspected cocaine and cannabis were found with estimated values of €56,500 and €44,000. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe search recovered an estimated €56,500 of suspected cocaine and €44,000 of cannabis. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe search was carried out at a domestic residence. (garda.ie)
  • whereGardaí searched a domestic residence in the Westmeath region. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereDrugs were seized at a home in Co Westmeath. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe drugs were seized in Co Westmeath. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe search and arrests took place on Friday 28 April 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe operation took place on Friday, 28 April 2023. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe search was carried out the day before the article was published. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe arrests were made under Operation Tara as part of an ongoing investigation into drug sale and supply in the Westmeath region. (garda.ie)
  • investigationOne man was released from custody and a file will be prepared for the DPP. (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe arrests were part of an ongoing Operation Tara investigation into drug sale and supply. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationTwo men in their 20s were arrested in connection with the search. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationOne of the men was released from custody and a file will be prepared for the DPP. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationTwo men in their 20s were arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationOne of the men was released from custody. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationMullingar Divisional Drugs Unit, Mullingar Detective Unit, Delvin and Rochfortbridge Garda Stations and the Garda Dog Unit were involved in the search. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe search was carried out by gardaí from the Mullingar Divisional Drugs Unit. (rte.ie)
  • chargeBoth men were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. (garda.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeThe second man has been charged. (garda.ie)
  • chargeThe second man was charged. (longfordleader.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe second man has been charged and is scheduled to appear before Mullingar District Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe charged man was scheduled to appear before Mullingar District Court on Saturday 29 April 2023. (garda.ie, longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe second man was due to appear before Mullingar District Court on Saturday morning. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe seizure was part of Operation Tara. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherTwo men aged in their 20s were arrested in connection with the find. (rte.ie)
  • otherOne of the men was later released from custody and a file will be prepared for the DPP. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Apr2023
    Chargedrte.ie, first report
    Two arrests after €100,000 worth of drugs seized

    Original report of the Westmeath search, two arrests and one charge. No matching existing case.

    accused, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, male
  2. 29 Apr2023
    Chargedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Cocaine and cannabis worth €100,000 seized in Co Westmeath home

    Reports a Co Westmeath drugs seizure with two arrests, one man charged and one released. No existing case covers this incident.

    suspect, 20s, maleaccused, 20s, male
  3. 29 Apr2023
    Chargedlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Two men arrested in Midlands following €100,000 drugs bust

    First report of this Westmeath drugs search. Gives the seizure values, the arrest of two men aged in their 20s, one released with a file to the DPP and one charged. No matching existing case.

    suspect, 20s, maleaccused, 20s, male
  4. 28 Apr2023
    Chargedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Operation Tara - €100,000 Drugs Seized and Two Men Arrested, Co. Westmeath, 28th April 2023

    Adds that the second man has been charged and is due before Mullingar District Court on 29 April 2023, that the first man was released with a file to the DPP, and that the search was carried out by the Mullingar Divisional Drugs Unit and others.

    suspect, 20s, maleaccused, 20s, male