Two men charged over €8.5m cocaine and cannabis seized in Co. Meath and Louth under Operation Tara
On 3 August 2026, Gardaí seized suspected cocaine and cannabis with an estimated value of €8.5 million during a pre-planned operation under Operation Tara, beginning with a vehicle interception in Co. Meath and follow-up searches in Counties Meath and Louth. Two men aged in their 30s and 40s were arrested and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Garda Station in the Eastern Region. Gardaí believe the drugs were owned by a west Dublin gangland leader in his 30s who is close to senior members of the Kinahan cartel. The two men have since been charged with possession of controlled drugs and are due to appear before Trim District Court on 5 August 2026 at 5:00pm.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested4 Aug
3 reports - Chargednot reported
- In court5 Aug
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí seized suspected cocaine and cannabis with an estimated value of €8.5 million.
- Where
- A vehicle was intercepted in Co. Meath and coordinated searches were conducted in locations in Counties Meath and Louth.
- When
- The seizure occurred on 3 August 2026.
- Investigation
- The operation was an intelligence-led investigation under Operation Tara conducted by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
- The seized drugs were sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis and investigations are ongoing.
- Other details
- Two males aged in their 30s and 40s were arrested and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Garda Station in the Eastern Region.
- Gardaí believe the drugs were owned by a west Dublin gangland leader in his 30s who is close to senior members of the Kinahan cartel.
- The suspected owner has been known to gardaí for over two decades, has served a significant prison sentence for drug dealing, and has progressed from teenage robberies to the upper echelons of the Irish drugs trade.
- Charges
- The two males have been charged with possession of controlled drugs in relation to the investigation.
- In court
- The two males are due to appear before Trim District Court on 5 August 2026 at 5:00pm.
31 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí seized cocaine and cannabis with an estimated value of €8.5 million (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí seized suspected cocaine and cannabis with an estimated value of €8.5 million. (garda.ie)
- whatTwo males aged in their 30s and 40s were arrested. (garda.ie)
- whatAn €8.5 million consignment of cannabis and cocaine was seized in a pre-planned operation. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí believe the drugs were owned by a west Dublin gangland leader in his 30s. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGNDOCB seized €8.5 million worth of cocaine and cannabis (garda.ie)
- whereA vehicle was intercepted in Co. Meath (irishmirror.ie)
- whereCoordinated searches were conducted in locations in Counties Meath and Louth (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe search operation began when a vehicle was stopped in Co Meath. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe drugs were uncovered during follow-up searches in counties Meath and Louth. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe seizure took place in Co. Meath and Louth (garda.ie)
- whenThe seizure occurred on 3 August 2026 (garda.ie)
- investigationThe operation was an intelligence-led investigation under Operation Tara (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe men are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis (irishmirror.ie, garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing (irishmirror.ie, garda.ie)
- investigationGNDOCB conducted an intervention of a vehicle in Co. Meath as part of Operation Tara. (garda.ie)
- investigationCoordinated searches were conducted in a number of locations in Counties Meath and Louth. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe two males are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Garda Station in the Eastern Region. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe two men were still being held under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act on Tuesday night. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe two males have been charged in relation to the investigation (garda.ie)
- courtThe two males are due to appear before Trim District Court on 5 August 2026 at 5:00pm (garda.ie)
- otherTwo men in their 30s and 40s were arrested (irishmirror.ie)
- otherOperation Tara is an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy launched by the Garda Commissioner in July 2021 (irishmirror.ie)
- otherOperation Tara began four years ago and targets those involved in drug dealing at local, national and international level. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSection 50 allows suspects to be questioned for up to seven days without charge. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe suspected owner has been known to gardaí for involvement in a variety of crime for more than two decades. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe suspected owner has already served a significant prison sentence for drug dealing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe suspected owner has progressed into the upper echelons of the Irish drugs trade over the last decade. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe suspected owner graduated from involvement in robberies from when he was a teenager. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe operation was conducted under Operation Tara (garda.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 5 Aug202605/08/2026 Update (1) Court Appearance- Operation Tara: GNDOCB Seizes €8.5 million Cocaine and Cannabis, Two Arrests, Co. Meath and Louth- 3rd August 2026
Reports that the two arrested males have been charged and are due to appear before Trim District Court on 5 August 2026 at 5:00pm.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 4 Aug2026Drugs valued at €8.5m owned by man with ties to Kinahan cartel, gardaí believe
Adds details about the suspected beneficial owner: a west Dublin gangland leader in his 30s, known to gardaí for over two decades, who has served a significant prison sentence for drug dealing and progressed from teenage robberies to the upper echelons of the Irish drugs trade. He is described as close to men who managed the Kinahan cartel's Irish operation.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, malesuspect, 30s, male, irish (judged from name) - 4 Aug202604/08/2026 Operation Tara: GNDOCB Seizes €8.5 million Cocaine and Cannabis, Two Arrests, Co. Meath and Louth- 3rd August 2026
Initial Garda press release reporting the vehicle intervention, coordinated searches, drug seizure, and arrests; the two males are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 4 Aug2026Two men quizzed after Gardai seize €8.5 million worth of cocaine and cannabis
Reports the initial arrest and Section 50 detention of the two men, and that the seized drugs are being sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male