Wednesday 28 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. 0628Possession of controlled drugs · Co. Longford · 2 Jul 2026

Two men charged over €2 million drugs seizure in multi-county Gardaí and Revenue operation

On 2nd and 8th July 2026, a joint Gardaí and Revenue operation led by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau searched five business premises and two houses across Mayo, Longford, Louth and Carlow, seizing cannabis vapes, edibles and reefer cigarettes valued at about €2 million. Two men in their 30s were arrested in Mayo and Longford and detained under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. The Irish Times reported that one of the men was released without charge, while the Gardaí confirmed on 10 July that both men have been charged with possession of controlled drugs. Both are scheduled to appear before a special sitting of Longford District Court at 5:30pm on 10 July 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested9 Jul
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court10 Jul
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí and Revenue seized cannabis vapes, edibles and reefer cigarettes containing HHC and THC valued at about €2 million.
Where
Searches were carried out at five business premises and two houses in Castlebar, Longford, Drogheda and Carlow as part of an operation spanning Mayo, Longford, Louth and Carlow.
When
The operation took place on 2nd and 8th July 2026.
Cause
The searches followed gardaí becoming aware of retail premises, including vaping shops, selling illegal cannabis products.
Investigation
  • The operation was a joint Gardaí and Revenue effort led by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, with intelligence from Operation Tara and personnel from Customs Revenue Service and Garda drugs units in Longford, Mayo, Roscommon, Kildare and Drogheda.
  • Two men in their 30s were arrested in Mayo and Longford and detained under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Garda stations in the midlands.
  • The Irish Times reported that one of the men was released without charge following questioning and a file is being prepared for the DPP, while the Gardaí stated on 10 July that both men have been charged.
Charges
Both men have been charged with possession of controlled drugs.
In court
Both men are scheduled to appear before a special sitting of Longford District Court at 5:30pm on 10 July 2026.
Other details
Investigations are ongoing.
18 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí arrested two men and seized cannabis vapes and edibles valued at about €2 million (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTwo men aged in their 30s were arrested in Mayo and Longford (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSome of the vapes seized contained hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), a semi-synthetic cannabinoid (irishtimes.com)
  • whereA large team searched five business premises and two houses in Castlebar, Longford, Drogheda and Carlow (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe operation took place in Mayo, Longford, Louth and Carlow (garda.ie)
  • whenThe operation took place on 2nd and 8th July 2026 (garda.ie)
  • causeSearches were carried out after gardaí became aware of retail premises including vaping shops selling illegal cannabis products (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe men were detained under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Garda stations in the midlands (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationOne of the men was released without charge following questioning (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA file on the case is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe operation involved personnel from the bureau, Customs Revenue Service, and Garda drugs units based in Longford, Mayo, Roscommon, Kildare and Drogheda (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe intelligence resulting in the searches came from Operation Tara (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe operation was a joint Gardaí and Revenue operation (garda.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing (garda.ie)
  • chargeBoth men have been charged (garda.ie)
  • courtBoth men are scheduled to appear before a special sitting of Longford District Court at 5:30pm on 10 July 2026 (garda.ie)
  • otherTwo men in their 30s were arrested as part of the investigation (garda.ie)
  • other€2 million in controlled drugs were seized (garda.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Jul2026
    In courtgarda.ie, first report
    10/07/2026 Court Appearance: €2 million in Controlled Drugs Seized - Gardaí and Revenue Joint Operation, Mayo, Longford, Louth, Carlow, 2nd and 8th July 2026

    First report of the joint Gardaí and Revenue operation; two men in their 30s charged and appearing at a special sitting of Longford District Court.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male
  2. 9 Jul2026
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Gardaí seize cannabis vapes and edibles worth €2m

    Adds that one of the two men was released without charge and a file is being prepared for the DPP; specifies the types of cannabis products seized (vapes, edibles, reefer cigarettes containing HHC and THC); notes HSE case studies linking HHC vaping to psychotic episodes; identifies the operation as led by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau with Customs Revenue Service involvement.

    suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male