Ireland Two men remanded over €1m cannabis haul in Castlebellingham, Co Louth
Stephen McGuane, 45, and Ciaran McParland, 41, were remanded in custody at Dundalk District Court on 3 April 2026 after being charged with possession of drugs and possession of drugs for sale or supply following their arrest in a kitchen in Castlebellingham, Co Louth, with eight boxes of cannabis worth approximately €1 million from a shipment originating in America.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested1 Apr
2 reports - Charged1 Apr
- In court3 Apr
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports38 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTwo males in their 40s were arrested in connection with the investigation (garda.ie)
- whatThe joint operation involved the seizure of approximately €1 million in cannabis (garda.ie)
- whatRevenue officers seized 50kg of suspected cannabis (garda.ie)
- whatThe cannabis had an estimated street value of €1 million (garda.ie)
- whatTwo males in their 40s were arrested (garda.ie)
- whatTwo men were arrested in connection with the cannabis seizure. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatApproximately 50kg of suspected cannabis was seized. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBoth men are in their 40s. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA consignment of alleged cannabis from America was intercepted and delivered to a logistics warehouse in Castlebellingham under surveillance. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA white Vauxhall van driven by McGuane with McParland in the passenger seat collected the pallet from the warehouse. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe van reversed into the driveway and the men were observed unloading the eight boxes into the house. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe seizure took place in Castlebellingham, Co Louth (garda.ie)
- whereThe suspects are detained at a station in the Garda North Western Region (garda.ie)
- whereThe operation took place in Castlebellingham, Co Louth. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe men are detained at a Garda station in the North Western Region. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at Bellingham Green, Castlebellingham, Co Louth. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe court appearance is scheduled for 6pm on Friday 3 April 2026 (garda.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on 1 April 2026 (garda.ie)
- whenThe seizure took place on Wednesday, 1 April 2026 (garda.ie)
- whenThe operation was carried out on Wednesday, 1 April 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe men were arrested on Wednesday, 1 April 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation was a joint operation between Gardaí and Revenue Customs (garda.ie)
- investigationThe suspects are detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 (garda.ie)
- investigationThe seized drugs are being analysed by Forensic Science Ireland (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe men are detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeBoth men have been charged (garda.ie)
- chargeBoth men are charged with possession of drugs contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeBoth men are charged with possession of drugs for sale or supply contrary to Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBoth are due to appear before Dundalk District Court (garda.ie)
- courtThe men appeared before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court on Friday evening, 3 April 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Coggins granted McGuane bail with conditions including a cash lodgement of an independent surety of €20,000. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge also said she would remand McGuane on his own bond of €10,000 or €5,000 cash. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge refused to grant McParland bail and remanded him in custody to appear before Dundalk District Court on 8 April 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceMcGuane was also remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear on 8 April 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcGuane was the leaseholder of the property while McParland rented a room. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcGuane is on social welfare. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcParland was asked by a person he lived with to collect a bit of weed. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 3 Apr2026Two men 'caught red-handed' in kitchen with €1m drug haul
Details of the Dundalk District Court hearing on 3 April 2026, including the joint GNDOCB/Revenue operation, the interception of the American cannabis shipment, the arrest in the kitchen, bail decisions (McGuane remanded with consent to bail; McParland remanded in custody), and both men's statements.
accused, Stephen McGuane, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen McGuaneaccused, Ciaran McParland, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ciaran McParland - 2 Apr2026Gardai arrest two men over seizure of suspected cannabis worth €1 million
Provides details of the initial arrest and seizure: the operation was conducted by GNDOCB with Revenue's Customs Service, approximately 50kg of cannabis was seized, both suspects are in their 40s, and they are detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 at a Garda station in the North Western Region.
suspect, 40s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 1 Apr2026Joint Operation – Gardaí and Revenue Customs Operation, €1 million in Cannabis Seized – Two Arrests, Co Louth, 1st April 2026
Garda press release confirming the initial seizure of 50kg of cannabis and the arrest of two males in their 40s; drugs sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
suspect, 40s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 1 Apr2026Court Appearances - Joint Operation – Gardaí and Revenue Customs Operation, €1 million in Cannabis Seized – Two Arrests, Co Louth, 1st April 2026
Confirms the two men have been charged and provides the specific court appearance time (6pm, Friday 3 April 2026) at Dundalk District Court.
suspect, 40s, malesuspect, 40s, male