Case No. 2390Possession of controlled drugs (cocaine, cannabis), money laundering · Co. Laois · 4 Feb 2025
Two men charged over €14m cocaine and cannabis seizure in Mountmellick and Rathcoole
Robert Wojtanowicz, 45, and Robert Cup, 44, were charged at Portlaoise District Court with possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply following the seizure of 182kg of cocaine and 4kg of cannabis in Mountmellick, Co Laois, and 17kg of cocaine and €25,000 in cash in Rathcoole, Dublin, with a total estimated value of more than €14 million. Both were remanded to Cloverhill Prison.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested4 Feb
8 reports - Charged4 Feb
2 reports - In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports100 statements extracted from the articles
- whatApproximately 182kg of cocaine and 4kg of cannabis herb were seized. (garda.ie)
- whatIn a follow-up search in west Dublin, approximately 17kg of cocaine and €25,000 in cash were seized. (garda.ie)
- whatThe total estimated value of the drugs seized is more than €14 million. (garda.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatEight vehicles along with drugs paraphernalia were also seized. (garda.ie)
- whatGardaí from the Dublin Crime Response Team conducted an intelligence-led operation in Mountmellick, Co Laois, and other locations. (garda.ie)
- whatApproximately 182kg of cocaine was seized. (garda.ie, irishtimes.com)
- what4kg of cannabis herb was seized. (garda.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatThe estimated value of the drugs seized is in excess of €12.8 million. (garda.ie)
- whatThree men were arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. (garda.ie)
- whatAlmost €13 million worth of drugs were seized in the operation. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe estimated value of the seized drugs was in excess of €12.8 million. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThree men were arrested. (irishtimes.com)
- whatApproximately 182kg of cocaine was seized during the operation (irishmirror.ie)
- what4kg of cannabis herb was also seized (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe estimated value of drugs seized is in excess of €12.8 million (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThree men were arrested during the raids (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe operation targeted the sourcing, preparation and distribution of substantial quantities of illicit drugs (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí seized 17kg of cocaine, €25,000 in cash and eight vehicles in a follow-up search in west Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe original seizure on Tuesday involved around 182kg of cocaine and 4kg of cannabis in Mountmellick, Co Laois and other locations. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe total estimated value of all drugs seized is more than €14 million. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatEight vehicles and drug paraphernalia were seized in the operation. (irishmirror.ie)
- what182kg of cocaine and 4kg of cannabis herb were seized in Mountmellick, Co Laois (dublinlive.ie)
- whatAround 17kg of cocaine were seized in a follow-up search in west Dublin (dublinlive.ie)
- what€25,000 in cash was seized in the west Dublin search (dublinlive.ie)
- whatEight vehicles and drugs paraphernalia were seized in the operation (dublinlive.ie)
- whatGardaí dismantled a big cocaine distribution network in Co Laois (irishtimes.com)
- whatA fleet of vehicles with hidden compartments was used to supply drugs to the West Dublin area (irishtimes.com)
- what182kg of pure cocaine and 4kg of cannabis were found in a commercial premises in Mountmellick (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe total value of the seized drugs was estimated at €14 million (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe narcotics had only just arrived in the State (irishtimes.com)
- whatSeveral men were cutting the cocaine with bulking agents when the raid happened (irishtimes.com)
- whatEight modified vehicles were discovered on the premises (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe vehicles were to be used to distribute the cocaine to dealers (irishtimes.com)
- whatA follow-up search at a garage in West Dublin found about 17kg of cocaine hidden (irishtimes.com)
- what€25,000 worth of cash was found at the West Dublin garage (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí described the Mountmellick operation as factory-like and highly sophisticated (irishtimes.com)
- whatThree men believed to be from Poland were arrested at the Mountmellick premises (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe arrested men were working for a criminal gang run by two Irish brothers (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí seized €12.8m worth of cocaine and cannabis at an industrial unit in Mountmellick, Laois (irishmirror.ie)
- what182kg of cocaine and 4kg of cannabis were found in the former motor garage (irishmirror.ie)
- whatEight vehicles were seized in which some of the drugs were hidden (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA further 17kg of cocaine and €25,000 in cash were seized during follow-up searches in West Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe total estimated value of the drugs seized stands at more than €14m (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe gang cut into vehicle panels, hid the drugs, and sealed them back up (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe drugs were packaged and ready to be mixed, repackaged and distributed throughout West Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
- what182kg of cocaine and 4kg of cannabis was seized in Mountmellick. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA further 17kg of cocaine and €25,000 in cash was found during a follow-up search in Rathcoole. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe total value of the drugs seized is estimated at more than €14 million. (irishtimes.com)
- whereDrugs were seized in Mountmellick, Co Laois and a number of other locations on 4 February 2025. (garda.ie)
- whereThe operation was conducted in Mountmellick, Co Laois and a number of other locations. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe men are detained at unnamed stations in the eastern region. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe operation was conducted in Mountmellick, County Laois and a number of other locations (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe arrested men are detained at Garda stations in the Eastern Region (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe follow-up search took place in west Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe three men are held at Garda stations in the Eastern Region (dublinlive.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whereThe Laois industrial unit was where the gang was mixing pure cocaine with other substances before repackaging (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe premises where the cocaine was found was previously a motor works and motor garage (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe operation took place on Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe operation took place on the evening of Tuesday 4 February 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe seizures took place on Tuesday 4 February 2025 (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationA file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding the third man. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations into the incident are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí from the Dublin Crime Response Team are continuing their investigation. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe drugs seized are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThree men arrested remain in custody under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. (garda.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie, irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe operation is described as having taken down the main supply network for cocaine and crack cocaine into West Dublin. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe operation targeted an Organised Criminal Group. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe men are being detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe three men are detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe operation was conducted by the Dublin Crime Response Team (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThree men remain in custody under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at Garda stations in the Eastern Region. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA Garda spokesperson confirmed that investigations are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe operation was carried out by the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT) (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDCRT members are specially trained to spot secret compartments in vehicles (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe brothers have long been the target of the Criminal Assets Bureau and the DCRT (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe three arrested men remain in custody under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe operation was intelligence-led and had been going on for many months (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThree people arrested during the searches on Tuesday remain in custody and can be held for up to seven days (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThere are still other people gardaí would be looking for (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA third man arrested in connection with the matter was released without charge. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeTwo men, both aged in their 40s, arrested in connection with the investigation have been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeRobert Wojtanowicz was charged with possessing cannabis and cocaine for his own use and for sale or supply at Laois Motors Services, Manor Street, Mountmellick. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeWojtanowicz was also charged with possessing cocaine for his own use and for sale or supply at Eaton Close, Rathcoole, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeRobert Cup was charged with possessing cocaine and cannabis for his own use and for sale or supply at Laois Motor Services, Manor Street, Mountmellick. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCup was also charged with possessing cannabis and cocaine for his own use and for sale or supply at Eaton Close, Rathcoole, Dublin, and with money laundering at the same address. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe two charged men are expected to appear before Portlaoise District Court on 6 February 2025 at 2pm. (garda.ie)
- courtCab previously told the High Court the brothers played a leading role in sourcing and supplying drugs in areas of Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- courtTwo men appeared before Portlaoise District Court charged in connection with a multi-million euro drugs seizure in Mountmellick, Co Laois on Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge John Brennan refused bail and remanded both men to Cloverhill Prison to appear again at Portlaoise District Court by video link on 13 February. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA third man, aged in his 50s, arrested in relation to the incident has been released without charge. (garda.ie)
- otherThe men are from eastern Europe. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí believe the drugs had been processed and mixed with bulking agents in the Republic after being imported. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe operation took down the main supply network for cocaine and crack cocaine into West Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAssistant Commissioner Paul Cleary of the Dublin Metropolitan Region described the operation as a significant blow to an organised criminal group. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAssistant Commissioner Paul Cleary said the operation was a significant blow to an organised criminal group (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe gang is led by two brothers and are targets of the Criminal Assets Bureau (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe three people in custody are high up in the hierarchy of the gang (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí seized €9.6 million worth of drugs and more than €1 million in cash from the same gang last year (irishmirror.ie)
- otherBoth accused made no response when arrested, charged and cautioned. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 6 Feb2025Two men charged over €14m drugs seized in Laois and Dublin
Details of charges, quantities and values of drugs seized, court proceedings at Portlaoise District Court, and remand to Cloverhill Prison.
suspect, Robert Wojtanowicz, 45, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Robert Wojtanowiczsuspect, Robert Cup, 44, male, namedRobert Cup - 6 Feb2025€14M coke bust dismantled entire 'supply network' says top cop as three arrested
Provides Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary's commentary on the operation, details of the gang's method of hiding drugs in vehicle panels, confirmation that three people are in custody as high-ranking gang members, and background on a previous €9.6m seizure from the same gang.
suspectsuspectsuspect - 5 Feb2025Drugs gang used fleet of cars modified with secret compartments to supply Dublin
Adds details about eight modified vehicles with secret compartments, the DCRT's specialised role, the gang structure (two Irish brothers), the follow-up search in West Dublin, and the three Polish men's detention under the Drug Trafficking Act.
suspect, male, non-irish (judged from name)suspect, male, non-irish (judged from name)suspect, male, non-irish (judged from name)suspect, male, Irish, irishsuspect, male, Irish, irish - 5 Feb2025Dublin Gardai seize 17kg of cocaine in follow-up to massive Laois drugs bust
Garda press release confirming the west Dublin follow-up search details, total value of over €14m, eight vehicles and drugs paraphernalia seized, and that three men remain in custody under the Drug Trafficking Act.
suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 5 Feb2025Gardaí seize further 17kg of cocaine and eight vehicles after massive Laois haul
Adds details of the follow-up search in west Dublin (Rathcoole) where 17kg cocaine, €25,000 cash and eight vehicles were seized, bringing the total estimated drug value to over €14 million. Confirms three men remain in custody under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, and that the drugs are being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland.
suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 5 Feb2025Three arrested after €12.8m cocaine seizure in 'significant blow' to crime gang
Reports the arrest of three men and quotes Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary describing the operation as having 'taken down the main supply network for cocaine and crack cocaine into West Dublin' and as 'another significant blow to an organised criminal group'.
suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 4 Feb2025Gardaí seize drugs valued at €13m in ‘significant blow to crime group’
Initial Garda press release describing the DCRT operation, the seizure of 182kg cocaine and 4kg cannabis valued at over €12.8m, the arrest of three men from eastern Europe, and the identification of the operation as targeting the main supply network for cocaine and crack cocaine into West Dublin.
suspect, male, non-irish (judged from name)suspect, male, non-irish (judged from name)suspect, male, non-irish (judged from name) - 4 Feb2025€12.8 Million Drugs Seized and Arrests in Ongoing Operation, 4th February 2025
Initial Garda press release on the operation, reporting three arrests and the full drug seizure; case 2390 covers the subsequent charging of two of the men at Portlaoise District Court.
suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 4 Feb2025Update (1) €14m Drugs Seized and Arrests in Operation, Co Laois and West Dublin, 4th February 2025
Garda press release confirming the full details of the seizure, noting eight vehicles and drugs paraphernalia were also taken, the drugs are being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland, and the three arrested men remain in custody at Garda stations in the Eastern Region under the Drug Trafficking Act.
suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 4 Feb2025Update (2) Court Appearance: €14m Drugs Seized and Arrests in Operation, Co Laois and West Dublin, 4th February 2025
Confirms two men in their 40s charged and due at Portlaoise District Court on 6 February 2025 at 2pm; a third man in his 50s released without charge with a file to be prepared for the DPP; investigations ongoing.
suspect, 40s, malesuspect, 40s, malesuspect, 50s, male