Two men charged over €1.8m cocaine handover in Blanchardstown, Dublin
On 28 August 2026, Gardaí from the Dublin Crime Response Team intercepted a drug handover at the car park of Brandon Square, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, and seized approximately €2.3 million worth of suspected cocaine, MDMA and cannabis. man David Royle, 62, and Polish man Tomasz Nowosad, 53, were arrested and charged with possession of controlled drugs. Both appeared before Dublin District Court on 31 August 2026, where Royle admitted to acting as a drug courier two to three times a week, and bail was set at €5,000 each with a further €5,000 in independent sureties. They were scheduled to appear again at Cloverhill District Court, and investigators are preparing a file for the DPP with an anticipated upgrade of charges to section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested29 Aug
3 reports - Charged30 Aug
- In court31 Aug
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Two men were arrested after Gardaí intercepted a handover of suspected drugs in a public place and seized approximately 18 kg of suspected cocaine (€1.8m), 4 kg of suspected cocaine from a vehicle at the scene (€400k), 5,000 MDMA tablets (€50k) and 4 kg of cannabis (€56k), totalling approximately €2.3 million (one source gives €2.2 million).
- Where
- The handover took place at the car park area of Brandon Square, Waterville, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.
- When
- The seizure occurred on Friday, 28 August 2026.
- Cause
- Royle was observed receiving a Smyths Toys shopping bag from Nowosad.
- Investigation
- The operation was an intelligence-led investigation by the Dublin Crime Response Team; the drugs were forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland and investigators are preparing a file for the DPP with an anticipated upgrade to section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
- Charges
- Both men were charged with possession of controlled drugs; Royle faces additional charges for cannabis and ecstasy seized at his house, and Nowosad faces charges relating to cocaine found in his car (reported as 2 kg or 7 kg).
- In court
- The pair appeared before Dublin District Court (Court 4) at the Criminal Courts of Justice on 31 August 2026; bail was set at €5,000 each with a further €5,000 in independent sureties, and they were scheduled to appear again at Cloverhill District Court.
- Other details
- David Royle, 62, is an IT technician from Crumlin Road, Dublin 12, and Tomasz Nowosad, 53, is a Polish man from Knightsbridge, Rush, Co Dublin who had lived in Ireland for 20 years; neither had prior convictions.
- Royle admitted in court to acting as a drug courier two to three times a week for €200 to €300 per kilogram.
53 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTwo men were arrested after €2.3m worth of drugs was seized in west Dublin on Friday. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatGardaí seized approximately 18 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated value of €1.8 million. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatAn additional four kilograms of suspected cocaine worth €400,000 was seized from a vehicle at the scene. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatTwo males aged in their 50s and 60s were arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (dublinlive.ie)
- what5,000 MDMA tablets worth an estimated €50,000 and 4 kilograms of cannabis herb worth an estimated €56,000 were seized in follow-up searches. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe total estimated value of the seizures is €2,306,000. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatMore than €2.3 million worth of drugs were seized in Blanchardstown, west Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe seizure included cocaine, cannabis and MDMA (irishtimes.com)
- whatAbout 18 kg of suspected cocaine with an estimated value of €1.8 million was seized (irishtimes.com)
- whatAn additional four kilograms of suspected cocaine worth about €400,000 was seized from a vehicle at the scene (irishtimes.com)
- whatFollow-up searches seized 5,000 MDMA tablets worth an estimated €50,000 (irishtimes.com)
- whatFollow-up searches seized four kilograms of cannabis herb worth an estimated €56,000 (irishtimes.com)
- whatAround 18 kg of suspected cocaine with a street value of €1.8 million was seized (irishmirror.ie)
- whatFour kilograms of suspected cocaine valued at €400,000 was found in a vehicle at the scene (irishmirror.ie)
- what5,000 MDMA tablets worth an estimated €50,000 were seized during follow-up searches (irishmirror.ie)
- whatFour kilograms of cannabis herb worth an estimated €56,000 were seized during follow-up searches (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo men aged in their 50s and 60s were arrested (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo men aged in their 50s and 60s were arrested and detained. (garda.ie)
- whatApproximately €2.3 million worth of suspected cocaine, cannabis, and MDMA was seized. (garda.ie)
- what18 kg of cocaine worth €1.8 million was found in a bag placed in the boot of Royle's car. (irishtimes.com)
- what4 kg of cannabis valued at €56,000 was found at Royle's house. (irishtimes.com)
- whatApproximately 5,000 ecstasy tablets worth €50,000 were found at Royle's house. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAnother 7 kg of suspected cocaine in Nowosad's car had yet to be tested. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe total amount of drugs seized in the operation was €2.2 million. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRoyle admitted acting as a courier distributing drugs two to three times a week for €200–€300 per kilogram. (irishtimes.com)
- whereOfficers observed and intercepted the handover of suspected drugs in a public place in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereOfficers observed an alleged drug deal in a public place in Blanchardstown (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe seizure took place in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. (garda.ie)
- whereThe handover took place at the car park area of Brandon Square, Waterville, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. (irishtimes.com)
- whereRoyle's residence is on Crumlin Road, Dublin 12. (irishtimes.com)
- whereNowosad lives in Knightsbridge, Rush, Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe seizure occurred on Friday, 28 August 2026. (garda.ie)
- whenThe court appearance is at 10:30 a.m. on 31 August 2026. (garda.ie)
- causeRoyle was observed receiving a Smyths Toys shopping bag from Nowosad. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe operation was part of an intelligence-led investigation into the sale and supply of controlled drugs carried out by the Dublin Crime Response Team. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationFollow-up searches were conducted in Dublin Metropolitan Region North and Dublin Metropolitan Region South. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe drugs seized will be forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (dublinlive.ie, irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe operation was an intelligence-led investigation into the sale and supply of drugs (irishtimes.com)
- investigationTwo men aged in their 50s and 60s were arrested and detained under section two of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking Act) 1996 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe operation was carried out by the Dublin Crime Response Team (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations remain ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí from the Dublin Crime Response Team intercepted the two men. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInvestigators are preparing a file for the DPP and anticipate upgrading charges to section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe two men have been charged. (garda.ie)
- courtThey are scheduled to appear before Dublin District Court (Court 4) at the Criminal Courts of Justice. (garda.ie)
- courtBail was set at €5,000 for each man, with a further €5,000 in independent sureties. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe pair will appear again at Cloverhill District Court on Friday. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNowosad had lived in Ireland for 20 years, had a family there and no longer had ties to Poland. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNeither man had prior convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherRoyle is an IT technician and a father of two. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNowosad is unemployed and a father of one. (irishtimes.com)
- otherRoyle drove a blue 2026-registered Skoda Fabia. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 31 Aug2026Pair charged over €1.9m cocaine ‘handover’ in Dublin car park
Details of the handover at Brandon Square, Royle's admissions as a drug courier, the full breakdown of the €2.2 million seizure, Nowosad's Polish background and 20 years in Ireland, and bail conditions including passport surrender and three-day-a-week sign-on.
accused, David Royle, 62, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Royleaccused, Tomasz Nowosad, 53, male, Polish, named, non-irishTomasz Nowosad - 30 Aug202630/08/2026 Court Appearances - DCRT Seizure of €2.3 Million Worth of Controlled Drugs, 2 Arrests, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 –28th August 2026
Confirms the two men have been charged and provides their court appearance details: Dublin District Court (Court 4) at the Criminal Courts of Justice at 10:30 a.m. on 31 August 2026. States the total seizure value as approximately €2.3 million including cocaine, cannabis, and MDMA.
suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 60s, male - 29 Aug2026Gardai seize €2.3m worth of 'cocaine, cannabis & MDMA' following operation
Provides a full breakdown of the seizure (18 kg cocaine at €1.8m, 4 kg cocaine at €400k, 5,000 MDMA tablets at €50k, 4 kg cannabis at €56k), confirms the operation was run by the Dublin Crime Response Team, and notes the drugs are being sent to FSI for analysis.
suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 60s, male - 29 Aug2026Men arrested after €2.3m worth of drugs seized in Dublin operation
Adds details on the full seizure including 4 kg additional cocaine from a vehicle at the scene, 5,000 MDMA tablets and 4 kg cannabis from follow-up searches, the combined value of €2.3 million, the role of the Dublin Crime Response Team, and that the drugs were forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 60s, male - 29 Aug2026Two arrests after major €2.3m drugs haul in west Dublin
Provides full breakdown of the seizure (18 kg + 4 kg cocaine, 5,000 MDMA tablets, 4 kg cannabis totalling €2,306,000), identifies the unit as DCRT, and confirms the two suspects are aged in their 50s and 60s, detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 60s, male