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. 8166Drug trafficking · Co. Dublin

Two men charged over €2.2m drug seizure in Blanchardstown

On 28 August 2026, gardaí of the Dublin Crime Response Team intercepted a suspected drugs handover in Blanchardstown, Dublin, and seized about 18kg of suspected cocaine from a Smyths shopping bag. Reports put the total seizure value at €2.2 million or €2.3 million. David Royle, 62, and Tomaz Nowosad, a 53-year-old Polish man (also spelled Nowosade in some reports), were arrested in Blanchardstown and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. On Monday 31 August both men appeared separately at Dublin District Court, charged with drug possession and possession for sale or supply, and were remanded in custody with consent to bail. Both are due to appear before Cloverhill District Court on Friday.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested29 Aug
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court1 Aug
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí seized about 18kg of suspected cocaine, estimated at €1.8 million, from a Smyths shopping bag.
  • Follow-up searches found 4kg of cannabis herb, estimated at €56,000, and 5,000 MDMA tablets, estimated at €50,000.
  • A further 4kg of suspected cocaine, estimated at €400,000, was seized from a vehicle at the scene.
  • The total seizure was valued at €2.2 million in one report and around €2.3 million in another.
Where
The handover was intercepted near a shop on Waterville Road in Blanchardstown, Dublin.
When
Gardaí observed the two men parking beside each other in a Blanchardstown carpark on 28 August 2026.
Investigation
  • The Dublin Crime Response Team observed and intercepted the handover in a public place, and the operation was led by that unit.
  • A search of Nowosad's vehicle found a further two kilograms of cocaine, and suspected cocaine found in his car has yet to be tested.
  • Gardaí seized an encrypted Graphene phone that they believe was used to organise drug distribution.
  • The drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, and gardaí said investigations are ongoing.
Charges
  • Royle was charged with six counts of possession and of possession for sale or supply of drugs, described as three of each in one report.
  • Nowosad was charged with two counts of possession and two of possession for sale or supply, described as four counts in total in another report.
In court
Royle appeared at Dublin District Court on Monday 31 August and was remanded in custody at Cloverhill Prison with consent to bail.
Sentence
Royle's bail conditions were a €10,000 bond, with €5,000 lodged in cash and a €5,000 independent surety, and he is to be produced again on Friday. Nowosad was remanded in custody until Friday with consent to bail on strict conditions, including €5,000 of his own cash and an independent surety.
Other details
The defence said the drug values may fall once all the drugs have been tested, and Royle's counsel said his client had no recollection of some phrases quoted in court and that video interviews were not available.
41 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatOver €2 million worth of drugs were seized over the weekend in combined seizures. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe shopping bag contained 18 kilograms of cocaine. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA follow-up search of Royle's home found four kilograms of suspected cannabis and about 5,000 MDMA tablets. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatGardaí discovered 18kg of suspected cocaine, estimated at €1.8 million. (rte.ie)
  • whatGardaí found 4kg of cannabis herb during follow-up searches. (rte.ie)
  • whatGardaí found 5,000 MDMA tablets, estimated at €50,000, in follow-up searches. (rte.ie)
  • whatAn estimated €1.8m of cocaine was found in a Smyths shopping bag. (rte.ie)
  • whatGardaí found 18kg of suspected cocaine in the bag in Royle's car. (rte.ie)
  • whatA house search seized MDMA and cannabis, bringing the total to an estimated €2.2m. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe handover was intercepted near a shop on Waterville Road, Blanchardstown. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereGardaí seized around €2.3 million worth of suspected drugs in Blanchardstown, Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • where4kg of suspected cocaine, estimated at €400,000, was seized from a vehicle at the scene. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe men were arrested in Blanchardstown, Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • whenGardaí observed the men parking beside each other in a Blanchardstown carpark on 28 August. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe Dublin Crime Response Team observed and intercepted the two men during a drugs handover. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationA further two kilograms of cocaine were found in a search of Nowosad's vehicle. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí made the initial seizure after observing and intercepting a handover of suspected drugs in a public place. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe two men were arrested under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 and detained in a Dublin Metropolitan Region garda station. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (rte.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing, according to gardaí. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe seizure resulted from an operation by the Dublin Crime Response Team. (rte.ie)
  • investigationA phone was seized which gardaí believe was used to organise drug distribution with an encryption device. (rte.ie)
  • investigationFurther suspected cocaine found in Nowosade's car has yet to be tested. (rte.ie)
  • chargeRoyle was charged with three counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply and three counts of possession of drugs. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeNowosad was charged with two counts of possession of drugs for sale or supply and two counts of possession. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeTwo men appeared in court charged over a €2.2 million drug seizure. (rte.ie)
  • chargeRoyle is charged with six counts of possession and sale or supply of drugs. (rte.ie)
  • chargeNowosade is charged with four counts, two of drug possession and two of possession with intent to sell or supply. (rte.ie)
  • courtRoyle appeared before Judge Stephanie Coggins at Dublin District Court on Monday. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtNowosad appeared separately before Judge Mark O'Connell. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtMs Justice Coggins remanded Royle in custody at Cloverhill Prison with consent to bail. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtRoyle's bail conditions included a €10,000 bond with €5,000 cash lodgement and a €5,000 independent surety, and he was to be produced again on Friday. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtNowosad was remanded in custody at Cloverhill until Friday with consent to bail on strict conditions. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtRoyle was granted bail on his own bond of €10,000 with €5,000 deposited in cash. (rte.ie)
  • courtRoyle was remanded in custody with consent to bail because he could not take up bail that day. (rte.ie)
  • courtNowosade was remanded in custody with consent to bail, with a lodgement of €5,000 of his own cash and an independent surety. (rte.ie)
  • courtBoth men are due to appear before Cloverhill District Court on Friday. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe garda put the value of the cocaine at €1.8 million. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherAn encrypted Graphene phone was seized, which gardaí believe was used to distribute drugs. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherRoyle's counsel said his client had no recollection of some phrases quoted in court and that video interviews were not available. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the value of the drugs may come down once they have all been tested. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 31 Aug2026
    In courtrte.ie, first report
    Two men charged in connection with €2.2m drug seizure

    First report of the case. Names the two accused, the charges, the total seizure value and the bail and remand decisions.

    accused, David Royle, 62, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Royleaccused, Thomaz Nowosade, 53, male, Polish, named, non-irishThomaz Nowosade
  2. 29 Aug2026
    Arrestedrte.ie, follow-up
    Two arrested after €2.3 million worth of drugs seized

    Reports the arrest of two men aged in their 50s and 60s and the total drugs value of €2.3 million. The men are not named, and the article does not give the seizure date or any charge.

    suspect, 50s, malesuspect, 60s, male
  3. 1 Aug2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Men appear in court over multimillion-euro drug seizures

    Court appearances on Monday 31 August. Adds the garda evidence on the seizure and the cocaine value, Royle's alleged admissions and the defence response, the Polish interpreter, a further two kilograms of cocaine found in Nowosad's vehicle, the seized encrypted phone, and the bail conditions and remand dates.

    accused, David Royle, 62, male, named, irish (judged from name)David Royleaccused, Tomaz Nowosad, 53, male, Polish, named, non-irishTomaz Nowosad