Ireland Case No. 30134Possession of drugs (cannabis); drug trafficking (sale and supply) · Co. Louth · 30 Aug 2021
Two men charged over €384k cannabis seizure in Drogheda
On 30 August 2021, gardaí seized 480 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €384,000 during searches of suspected growhouses in Drogheda, Co. Louth, and Edenderry, Co. Offaly, as part of a Louth Divisional Drug Unit operation targeting cannabis cultivation for sale and supply in the Drogheda area. Three men were arrested, and two, Mark Vickers (42) and Christopher Hodgins (31), were charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and having the drug for sale or supply. A third man in his 20s was released without charge. The two charged men appeared before Dundalk District Court on 9 September, where Vickers was remanded with bail conditions and Hodgins was adjourned to 11 November for the directions of the DPP.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested30 Aug
4 reports - Charged1 Sep
- In court1 Sep
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- 480 fully mature cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €384,000 were seized, comprising 80 plants (€64,000) in Drogheda and 400 plants (€320,000) in Edenderry.
- The operation targeted the cultivation and manufacture of cannabis for onward sale, supply and distribution in Drogheda and surrounding areas.
- Where
- Searches were conducted under warrant at a residence in Drogheda, Co. Louth, and a residence in Edenderry, Co. Offaly.
- When
- The search operation took place on the morning of Monday 30 August 2021.
- Investigation
- The operation was led by the Louth Divisional Drug Unit with assistance from the Armed Support Unit, Air Support Unit, and other units.
- Three men aged in their 20s, 30s and 40s were arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
- A third man in his 20s was released without charge and a file will be prepared for the DPP.
- Charges
- Mark Vickers (42) and Christopher Hodgins (31) were charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and having the drug for sale or supply at an address at St. Magdalene Terrace, Drogheda.
- In court
- The two charged men appeared before Dundalk District Court on 9 September 2021.
- Judge Eirinn McKiernan remanded Vickers in custody with consent to bail of his own bond of €10,000 and an independent surety of €15,000, with conditions including a curfew, passport surrender, and three weekly sign-ons at Drogheda Garda Station.
- Hodgins' case was adjourned to 11 November for the directions of the DPP.
- Other details
- Vickers' case was adjourned to Drogheda District Court.
62 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThree men aged in their 20s, 30s and 40s were arrested during the operation (rte.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- what€384,000 worth of cannabis plants were seized (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- whatThe operation targeted the cultivation and manufacture of cannabis for onward sale, supply and distribution in Drogheda and surrounding areas (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- what80 fully mature cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €64,000 were found in Drogheda (rte.ie)
- whatApproximately 400 fully mature cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €320,000 were seized in Edenderry (rte.ie)
- whatOver €380,000 of cannabis plants were seized by gardaí. (extra.ie)
- what80 fully mature cannabis plants were seized from a property in Drogheda. (extra.ie)
- whatThe Drogheda plants had an estimated street value of over €64,000. (extra.ie)
- what400 cannabis plants were seized from a property in Edenderry, Offaly. (extra.ie)
- whatThe Edenderry plants had an estimated street value of over €320,000. (extra.ie)
- whatThe 480 plants were estimated to be worth about €384,000 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe second search in Edenderry found 400 similar plants with a total street value of about €320,000 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe three arrested men were aged in their 20s, 30s and 40s (irishtimes.com)
- whatApproximately 400 fully mature cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €320,000 were seized in Edenderry, Co. Offaly. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatApproximately 80 fully mature cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €64,000 were seized in Drogheda, Co. Louth. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe total value of cannabis seized was €384,000. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe operation targeted cultivation and manufacture of cannabis for onward sale, supply and distribution in Drogheda and surrounding areas (thejournal.ie)
- whatApproximately 80 fully mature cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €64,000 were seized at the Drogheda residence (thejournal.ie)
- whatApproximately 400 fully mature cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €320,000 were seized at the Edenderry residence (thejournal.ie)
- whatThree men aged in their 20s, 30s and 40s were arrested during the search operation (thejournal.ie)
- whatTwo men were charged in connection with the seizure of €384,000 worth of cannabis by Louth Gardaí (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatThe two men are in their 30s and 40s respectively (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatA third man in his 20s was arrested in connection with the seizures (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatCannabis plants with an estimated street value of €384,000 were seized. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereA search of a residence in Drogheda, Louth, was conducted (rte.ie)
- whereA second search of a residence in Edenderry, Offaly, was conducted (rte.ie)
- whereThe plants were seized during two searches of suspected growhouses in Drogheda, Co Louth, and Edenderry, Co Offaly (irishtimes.com)
- whereOne search was conducted at a residence in Drogheda, Co Louth (thejournal.ie)
- whereA second search was conducted at a residence in Edenderry, Co Offaly (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe alleged offence took place at an address at St. Magdalene Terrace, Drogheda. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe search operation took place on the morning of Monday 30 August 2021. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenSearches were conducted under warrant at suspected cannabis growhouses on Monday morning (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe alleged offence occurred on 30 August 2021. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationThe operation was led by the Louth Divisional Drug Unit (rte.ie, thejournal.ie, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationThe men were detained at Drogheda and Balbriggan garda stations under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 (rte.ie)
- investigationThe search was conducted with assistance from multiple units including the Armed Support Unit and Air Support Unit (rte.ie)
- investigationInvestigations remain ongoing (rte.ie)
- investigationA search operation at several locations across the country was conducted. (extra.ie)
- investigationThe operation was conducted by officers at the Louth drug unit. (extra.ie)
- investigationThree men were arrested: one in his 20s, one in his 30s and one in his 40s. (extra.ie)
- investigationAll seized drugs will be sent for analysis (irishtimes.com, offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationThe operation was led by the Louth Divisional Drug Unit targeting the cultivation and manufacture of cannabis for onward sale, supply and distribution in Drogheda and surrounding areas. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationSearches were conducted under warrant at suspected cannabis growhouses. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationThe arrested men are detained in Drogheda and Balbriggan Garda Stations under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationThe operation was conducted with assistance from Drogheda Detective and Crime Units, Drogheda Community Action Team, Ardee Detective Unit, the Armed Support Unit and the Air Support Unit. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationAll drugs will be sent for analysis (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe man aged in his 20s was released without charge and a file will be prepared for the DPP (thejournal.ie)
- investigationA file is set to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationThe cannabis was seized by the Louth Drug Squad (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationMark Vickers' phone was seized as part of the investigation. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeThe men were detained in Drogheda and Balbriggan Garda stations under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe men aged in their 30s and 40s have been charged (thejournal.ie)
- chargeBoth men are accused of unlawful possession of cannabis and having the drug for sale or supply. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe charged men are due to appear before Dundalk District Court (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe two men are due to appear before Dundalk District Court (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtTwo men appeared before Dundalk District Court charged in connection with cannabis growhouses in Drogheda and Edenderry. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtJudge Eirinn McKiernan remanded Mark Vickers in custody with consent to bail of his own bond of €10,000 and an independent surety of €15,000. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtMark Vickers must remain indoors between 10pm and 7am, surrender his passport, and stay out of Grange House, Edenderry. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtMark Vickers must provide a new mobile phone number to gardaí within 24 hours and sign on three times a week at Drogheda Garda Station. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtMark Vickers' case was adjourned to Drogheda District Court. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtChristopher Hodgins' case was adjourned to 11 November for the directions of the DPP. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe third man has been released (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 9 Sep2021Two men appear in Dundalk court in relation to cannabis growhouses in Louth and Offaly
Details of bail conditions, curfews and adjournment dates for both defendants at Dundalk District Court.
accused, Mark Vickers, 42, male, namedMark Vickersaccused, Christopher Hodgins, 31, male, namedChristopher Hodgins - 1 Sep2021Two men charged for seizure of €384,000 worth of cannabis by Louth Drug Squad
Reports that the two men have been charged and are due before Dundalk District Court; adds that a third man in his 20s was released with a file to be prepared for the DPP.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, malesuspect, 20s, male - 1 Sep2021Two men due in court after €384k worth of cannabis plants seized in large scale operation
Provides details of the search operation, the specific quantities and values seized at each of the two locations, and confirms the two charged men are due before Dundalk District Court.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, malesuspect, 20s, male - 30 Aug2021Three men arrested after gardai make large drugs seizures in Offaly and Louth
Initial report of the coordinated search operation; provides details of both seizure locations (Edenderry and Drogheda), the number of plants seized at each site, the units involved, and the legal basis for detention.
suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 30 Aug2021Three arrested, 480 cannabis plants seized in operation against Drogheda drug dealing
Provides operational details of the search: 80 plants (€64,000) seized at a house in Drogheda and 400 plants (€320,000) in Edenderry, the units involved, and the ages of the three arrested men (20s, 30s, 40s) detained under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.
suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 30 Aug2021Gardai seize €384k of cannabis in raids in Drogheda and Offaly - Extra.ie
Reports the initial seizure operation, detailing the number of plants and estimated street values at both the Drogheda and Edenderry locations, and confirming three arrests by the Louth drug unit.
suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 30 Aug2021€384k worth of cannabis seized in Louth, Offaly
Provides details of the initial arrest and seizure, including the number of plants found at each location (80 in Drogheda, 400 in Edenderry), the units involved in the operation, and the detention locations.
suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male