Thursday 29 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. 7274Human trafficking (organised crime-related offences) · Co. Donegal · 24 Oct 2023

Two men arrested in Donegal over alleged human trafficking

Two men, aged 35 and 28, were arrested in Donegal on the morning of 24 October 2023 on suspicion of organised crime-related offences linked to alleged trafficking of persons into Ireland for labour exploitation. The arrests were part of an international investigation with a Joint Investigation Team established with Latvian law enforcement and Europol support, and coordinated activity also took place in Latvia that day. Both men were detained at Garda stations in County Donegal under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. Both men have since been charged and were expected to appear before a special sitting of Ballyshannon District Court at 6:30pm on Saturday 28 October 2023, which is the latest development. No victim is named, and gardaí have appealed to any possible victims to come forward.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested24 Oct
    3 reports
  3. Charged24 Oct
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Two men, aged 35 and 28, were arrested on suspicion of organised crime-related offences.
  • The alleged offence under investigation is trafficking of persons into Ireland for labour exploitation.
Where
  • The arrests took place in Donegal.
  • Both men are detained at Garda stations in County Donegal under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.
When
  • The men were arrested on the morning of 24 October 2023.
  • Law enforcement activity was also coordinated in Latvia on 24 October 2023.
  • Sources differ on the date of the charge notice: the garda.ie archive lists 24 October 2023, while the notice itself is issued 28 October 2023.
Investigation
  • The arrests were part of an international investigation with a Joint Investigation Team established with Latvian law enforcement.
  • The international operation is supported by Europol, with Europol officers present in Donegal.
  • The Donegal investigation team is supported by local, divisional and national Garda units, including HTICU, GNCCB, the Garda Mutual Assistance Section and GSAS.
Charges
The two men have been charged with organised crime-related offences.
In court
Both men were expected to appear before a special sitting of Ballyshannon District Court at 6:30pm on Saturday 28 October 2023.
Other details
Gardaí appealed to any possible victims of human trafficking or labour exploitation to come forward and speak to a member of An Garda Síochána.
32 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo males, aged 35 and 28, were arrested. (garda.ie)
  • whatThe alleged offence is trafficking of persons into Ireland for labour exploitation. (garda.ie)
  • whatTwo men were arrested on suspicion of organised crime-related offences. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe arrests were made during an investigation into alleged trafficking of persons into Ireland for labour exploitation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe arrests took place in Donegal. (garda.ie)
  • whereTwo men were arrested in Donegal. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe men are being detained at Garda stations in County Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe arrests took place on 24 October 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe arrests took place on the morning of 24 October 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whenLaw enforcement activity was co-ordinated in Latvia on 24 October 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe men were arrested on the morning the article was published. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe arrests were part of an international investigation into human trafficking and labour exploitation. (garda.ie)
  • investigationTwo individuals were arrested in connection with the investigation. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe operation involves a Joint Investigation Team established with Latvian law enforcement. (garda.ie)
  • investigationLaw enforcement activity was also being coordinated in Latvia on 24 October 2023. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe international operation is supported by Europol, and Europol officers are present in Donegal. (garda.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe Donegal investigation team is supported by local, divisional and national units, including HTICU, GNCCB, Garda Mutual Assistance Section and GSAS. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe arrests were part of an international human trafficking investigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí and Latvian colleagues have been investigating the alleged trafficking of people into Ireland for labour exploitation. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA joint investigation team was established with Latvian law enforcement. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe men are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe operation was a joint investigation with law enforcement in Latvia, where coordinated activity also took place. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe international operation is supported by Europol, and Europol officers are in Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe Donegal investigation team is supported by local, divisional and national Garda units, including HTICU at GNPSB. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe two arrested individuals have been charged. (garda.ie)
  • chargeThe arrests were for organised crime-related offences. (garda.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtBoth are expected to appear before a special sitting of Ballyshannon District Court at 6:30pm on Saturday 28 October 2023. (garda.ie)
  • otherBoth men are detained in Garda stations in Co Donegal under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. (garda.ie)
  • otherGardaí appeal to any possible victims of human trafficking or labour exploitation to come forward. (garda.ie)
  • otherThe men are aged 28 and 35. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe men are being held in Garda stations in Donegal under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGardaí appealed to any victims of human trafficking or labour exploitation to speak to a member of An Garda Síochána. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 Oct2023
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Two men arrested in Donegal during investigation into human trafficking

    First report of the arrests. Adds the ages of the two men, the detention under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, the joint investigation with Latvia, Europol's support and the Garda units involved.

    suspect, 35, malesuspect, 28, male
  2. 24 Oct2023
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Two men arrested in Donegal in relation to human trafficking

    Adds the ages of the two men (28 and 35), that they are held under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, the joint investigation team with Latvia, Europol's involvement, and a public appeal for victims to come forward. No names are given.

    suspect, 28, malesuspect, 35, male
  3. 24 Oct2023
    Arrestedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Arrest of 2 Males in Donegal, 24th October 2023 – International Investigation into Human Trafficking and Labour Exploitation

    Official Garda press release confirming the ages of the two arrested men (35 and 28), their detention under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, the joint investigation team with Latvia, and Europol's involvement. It does not name the men.

    suspect, 35, malesuspect, 28, male
  4. 24 Oct2023
    Chargedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Court Appearance - Arrests in Donegal, 24th October 2023 – International Investigation into Human Trafficking and Labour Exploitation

    Confirms the two men arrested on 24 October have been charged and gives the court date: a special sitting of Ballyshannon District Court at 6:30pm on 28 October 2023.

    accusedaccused