Ireland Case No. 2337Possession of controlled drugs (cocaine) · Co. Kildare · 11 Feb 2025
Two men charged after €5m cocaine seizure in Allenwood, Co Kildare
On 11 February 2025, Gardaí from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau seized approximately 72kg of cocaine valued at an estimated €5 million after searching a vehicle and a residential property in the Allenwood area, Co Kildare, as part of Operation Tara. Willem Hols, 61, from the Netherlands, and Anthony Coyne, 56, an Irishman, were arrested under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 in relation to facilitating and enhancing drug distribution activities for an organised crime group. Both men appeared before Judge Desmond Zaidan at Naas District Court on 13 February 2025, where Hols was charged with possession of cocaine for sale or supply and a second charge of possession, while Coyne faced two charges of possession with intent to sell or supply and two charges of possession. Hols was remanded in custody to reappear via video link on 19 February, and Coyne was remanded with a bail application to be made at Cloverhill District Court.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested11 Feb
4 reports - Charged11 Feb
3 reports - In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Approximately 72kg of cocaine valued at an estimated €5 million was seized, with 71kg found concealed in a van and another kilo found in a follow-up search.
- Where
- The searches took place at a vehicle and a residential property in the Allenwood area, Co Kildare.
- When
- The raid took place on Tuesday, 11 February 2025.
- Investigation
- The operation was carried out by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau under Operation Tara.
- The two men were arrested under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 in relation to facilitating and enhancing drug distribution activities for an organised crime group.
- Charges
- Willem Hols, 61, from the Netherlands, is charged with possession of cocaine for the purposes of sale or supply and a second charge of possession of cocaine.
- Anthony Coyne, 56, an Irishman, faces two charges of possessing cocaine with intent to sell or supply and two charges of possession of cocaine.
- In court
- Both men appeared before Judge Desmond Zaidan at Naas District Court on 13 February 2025 and neither made any reply when charged.
- Hols was remanded in custody to reappear via video link on 19 February 2025, and Coyne was remanded with a bail application to be made at Cloverhill District Court.
- Other details
- Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis of Organised and Serious Crime described the seizure as a significant seizure of cocaine destined for the Irish market.
69 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTwo men in their 50s and 60s were arrested by Gardaí attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (garda.ie)
- what€5 million worth of cocaine was seized in Allenwood, Co Kildare on 11 February 2025 (garda.ie)
- whatGardaí seized €5 million of cocaine in a search operation in Co Kildare. (garda.ie)
- whatApproximately 72 kilos of cocaine valued at an estimated €5 million was recovered. (garda.ie)
- whatTwo men in their 50s and 60s were arrested. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo men were arrested and 72 kilos of cocaine valued at an estimated €5 million were seized during a raid in Kildare. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatTwo men aged in their 50s and 60s were arrested (irishtimes.com)
- what€5 million worth of cocaine was seized (irishtimes.com)
- whatAbout 72kg of cocaine was seized (irishtimes.com)
- whatA vehicle and a residential property were searched (irishtimes.com)
- whatCocaine with an estimated value of €5 million was seized (irishmirror.ie)
- whatApproximately 72 kilos of cocaine was recovered (irishmirror.ie)
- what72kg of cocaine valued at an estimated €5 million was seized. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe cocaine was discovered as part of a surveillance operation on a vehicle, which was searched along with a residential property. (irishtimes.com)
- what72kgs of cocaine worth €5 million were seized (irishmirror.ie)
- what71 kilos of cocaine were found concealed in a van (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAnother kilo of cocaine was found in a follow-up search (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe searches took place in the Allenwood area of Kildare. (garda.ie)
- whereThe raid took place in Allenwood, Co Kildare. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe search took place in the Allenwood area of Co Kildare (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe men are detained at a Garda station in Kildare (irishtimes.com)
- whereA vehicle and residential premises in the Allenwood area were searched (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe men are detained at a Kildare Garda Station (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe drugs were found in the Allenwood area, Co Kildare. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe cocaine was seized in Allenwood, Co Kildare (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe men appeared at Naas District Court on Thursday, 13 February 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHols has an address at Prince Willian Alexander Park in Veenendaal in the Netherlands (irishmirror.ie)
- whereCoyne has an address at Riverside, Bluetown, Allenwood North, Kildare (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe raid took place on 11 February 2025. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe search operation took place on Tuesday afternoon (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe two accused were arrested on Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe seizure took place on Tuesday night, 11 February 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí attached to the GNDOCB stopped and searched a vehicle and a residential premises. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe men are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Kildare Garda Station. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí stopped and searched a vehicle and then carried out a search on a home, finding the cocaine during both searches. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe seizure was part of Operation Tara. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationInvestigations into the discovery continue. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau carried out the search (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe seizure and arrests were carried out under Operation Tara (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe men are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe search was conducted by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations into the seizure are ongoing (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe operation was carried out by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe seizure was carried out by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe two men have been charged (garda.ie)
- chargeThe men were arrested under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 in relation to facilitating and enhancing drug distribution activities for an organised crime group. (garda.ie)
- chargeThe two men were arrested in relation to facilitating and enhancing drug distribution activities for an organised crime group. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeThe two men were arrested on suspicion of facilitating and enhancing drug distribution activities for an organised crime group (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe men were arrested under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe arrest was in relation to facilitating and enhancing drug distribution activities for an organised crime group (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeBoth men were arrested under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeWillem Hols is charged with possession of cocaine for the purposes of sale or supply and a second charge of possession of cocaine. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeAnthony Coyne faces two charges of possessing cocaine with intent to sell or supply and two charges of possession of cocaine. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCoyne faces two charges of possessing cocaine with intent to sell or supply and two charges of possession of cocaine (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHols is charged with possession of cocaine for the purposes of sale or supply and a second charge of possession of cocaine (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe men are due to appear before Naas District Court on 13 February 2025 (garda.ie)
- courtBoth men appeared before Judge Desmond Zaidan at Naas District Court on Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtNo bail application was made by Hols and he was remanded in custody to appear next Wednesday, 19 February. (irishtimes.com)
- courtNeither man made any reply when charged (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHols was remanded to reappear via video link on 19 February (irishmirror.ie)
- courtCoyne was remanded in custody with a bail application to be made at Cloverhill District Court (irishmirror.ie)
- otherAssistant Commissioner Angela Willis described it as a significant seizure of cocaine destined for the Irish market. (garda.ie)
- otherThe two men are being held in a Co Kildare station. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe men are detained pursuant to Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act (irishtimes.com)
- otherAssistant commissioner Angela Willis described the operation as another significant seizure of cocaine destined for the Irish market (irishtimes.com)
- otherAssistant Commissioner Angela Willis of Organised and Serious Crime commented on the seizure (irishmirror.ie)
- otherWillem Hols has an address at Prince Willian Alexander Park in Veenendaal in the Netherlands. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAnthony Coyne has an address at Riverside, Bluetown, Allenwood North, Kildare. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 13 Feb2025Two men appear in court over €5 million cocaine seizure
First report of the charges; both men remanded in custody, with Hols to reappear via video link on 19 February and a bail application for Coyne to be made at Cloverhill District Court.
suspect, Willem Hols, 61, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Willem Holssuspect, Anthony Coyne, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Coyne - 13 Feb2025Two men charged after €5m cocaine seizure in Co Kildare
Details the charges, court appearances, and bail/remand outcomes for both accused following the 72kg cocaine seizure.
suspect, Willem Hols, 61, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Willem Holssuspect, Anthony Coyne, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Coyne - 12 Feb2025Two arrested as Gardaí seize cocaine worth €5 million at residential premises
Initial arrest report confirming the seizure of 72kg of cocaine worth €5 million and the arrest of two men under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006; the men are detained at a Kildare Garda Station.
suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 60s, male - 12 Feb2025Two men arrested as cocaine worth €5m is seized in Kildare
Reports the arrest of two men and details of the search operation, including the involvement of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, the search of a vehicle and residential property, and detention under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act as part of Operation Tara.
suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 60s, male - 12 Feb2025Gardai arrest two men following raid that led to €5million cocaine seizure
Reports the arrest of two men in their 50s and 60s following the raid; includes a statement from Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis of Organised and Serious Crime describing it as a significant seizure of cocaine destined for the Irish market.
suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 60s, male - 11 Feb2025Operation Tara - GNDOCB Seize €5 Million Cocaine, Allenwood, Co. Kildare, 11th February 2025
Initial GNDOCB arrest announcement naming the operation as Operation Tara, specifying the legal sections used (s.72 CJA 2006 and s.50 CJA 2007), the detention location, and including a statement from Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis of Organised and Serious Crime.
suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 60s, male - 11 Feb2025Court Appearance - Operation Tara - GNDOCB Seize €5 Million Cocaine, Allenwood, Co. Kildare, 11th February 2025
Confirms the two men are due to appear before Naas District Court on 13 February 2025.
suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 60s, male