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. 6986Drug trafficking (heroin) · Co. Dublin · 1 Dec 2023

Two men remanded over €8m heroin seizure at Weston Airport, Dublin

On Friday 1 December 2023, gardaí and Revenue officers monitored a light aircraft and intercepted a vehicle at Weston Airport, between Leixlip, Co Kildare, and Lucan, Co Dublin, and seized an estimated 60kg of heroin valued at €8 million. Aradi Ignac, 49, and Zoltan Nemeth, 62, were arrested and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, at Leixlip Garda station, and were charged on Sunday 3 December 2023 with unlawful possession of heroin and possession with intent to supply. On Monday 4 December 2023 they made no bail application at Dublin District Court and were remanded in custody. The latest development is that they are due to appear by video link at Cloverhill District Court on the Friday after, and investigations are ongoing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested1 Dec
  3. Charged1 Dec
  4. In court4 Dec
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gardaí seized an estimated 60kg of heroin valued at €8 million, described as the largest seizure of heroin in Ireland that year.
Where
  • The heroin was allegedly flown into Weston Airport, which lies between Leixlip, Co Kildare, and Lucan, Co Dublin.
  • The two men were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, at Leixlip Garda station, on suspicion of organised crime activity.
When
The seizure was made on Friday 1 December 2023, on the Friday morning, with the drugs found in bags on the plane before midday.
Investigation
  • Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and Revenue officers ran an intelligence-led operation, monitored a light aircraft and intercepted a 4X4 vehicle.
  • Investigations are ongoing.
Other details
  • The aircraft and the 4X4 vehicle were seized, and detectives believe the aircraft was used to bring the drugs into the country.
  • The seizure is the second of its kind involving a small aircraft in the Republic in recent years.
  • One man was found on the plane and the other close by in the 4X4; they are named as Aradi Ignac, 49, of Kecskemet, Hungary, and Zoltan Nemeth, 62, of Sukosd, Hungary.
  • It is understood the men are from Hungary and were working with Irish criminals to bring the heroin into the Republic for the domestic market.
  • Ignac said he took the heroin because he was forced to and for his family's safety; Nemeth said he was told the material was special metal for making microchips and that he never used drugs.
Charges
Gardaí charged both men on Sunday 3 December 2023, each accused of unlawful possession of heroin and possessing it with intent to supply at Weston Airport on 1 December 2023.
In court
  • On Monday 4 December 2023 both men appeared at Dublin District Court before Judge Treasa Kelly, made no bail application and were remanded in custody; one report said they were due at Criminal Courts of Justice, Court 2, that morning.
  • Both men are due to appear by video link at Cloverhill District Court on the Friday after their remand.
41 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo men were arrested in connection with an €8 million heroin seizure. (garda.ie)
  • whatGardaí seized heroin valued at €8 million. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGardaí impounded an aircraft that detectives believe was used to bring the drugs into the country. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAn estimated 60kg of heroin was found on the plane. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatTwo men were charged over a seizure of heroin worth €8 million that was allegedly flown into Weston Airport. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAn estimated 60kg of heroin was found on the plane, the largest seizure of heroin in Ireland this year. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe seizure took place in Co. Dublin and Co. Kildare. (garda.ie)
  • whereThe seizure was made at Weston Airport, which lies between Leixlip, Co Kildare, and Lucan, Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe heroin was allegedly flown into Weston Airport in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe men were detained at Leixlip Garda station under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe heroin was seized on Friday 1 December 2023. (garda.ie)
  • whenThe seizure occurred on Friday morning. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenGardaí charged the two men on the Sunday after the arrests. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe offence is alleged to have happened on 1 December 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
  • investigationThe arrests, seizure and impounding resulted from an intelligence-led operation by the GNDOCB and Revenue. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe investigation was ongoing. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGarda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and Revenue officers monitored a light aircraft and intercepted a vehicle, arresting two men. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí and Revenue officers monitored a light aircraft, intercepted a vehicle and arrested two men. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeBoth men have been charged in relation to the seizure. (garda.ie)
  • chargeTwo males were arrested on suspicion of organised crime activity and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeEach man is accused of unlawful possession of heroin and possessing it with intent to supply at Weston Airport on December 1. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeGardaí charged the two men on the Sunday before their court appearance. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeEach man is accused of unlawful possession of heroin and possessing it with intent to supply. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtBoth men were due to appear before Criminal Courts of Justice, Court number 2, on Monday 4 December 2023 at 10.30am. (garda.ie)
  • courtThe men made no bail application when they appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe men were remanded in custody and due to appear by video link at Cloverhill District Court on Friday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtNeither man applied for bail when they appeared at Dublin District Court on the Monday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtNemeth's barrister said he was reserving his position and not making a bail application at that point. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtBoth men were remanded in custody and due to appear by video link at Cloverhill District Court on Friday. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe seizure is the second of its kind involving a small aircraft in the Republic in recent years. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherTwo men, in their 40s and 60s, were arrested. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherOne man was found on the plane and the other was close by in a 4X4 vehicle, which was also seized. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGardaí found the drugs in bags on the plane before midday. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherIt is understood the men are from Hungary. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe seizure was the largest seizure of heroin in Ireland that year. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe two men were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, at Leixlip Garda station. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAradi Ignac said he took the heroin because he was forced to. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherZoltan Nemeth said he was told the material was special metal for making microchips and that he never used drugs. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherIgnac said at his charge that he took the drugs because he was forced to and for his family's safety. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherNemeth said he was told the material was special metal or material for making microchips and that he never used drugs. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Dec2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Two men remanded in custody over €8m heroin seizure at Dublin’s Weston Airport

    First report of the case: two men charged and remanded in custody after an estimated 60kg of heroin was found in a light aircraft at Weston Airport.

    accused, Aradi Ignac, 49, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Aradi Ignacaccused, Zoltan Nemeth, 62, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Zoltan Nemeth
  2. 4 Dec2023
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Two men charged over €8m heroin seizure appear in court

    First report on this seizure. Adds the charges, the court appearance, the remand in custody, the men's names and ages, their statements on charge, and the agencies involved.

    accused, Aradi Ignac, 49, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Aradi Ignacaccused, Zoltan Nemeth, 62, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Zoltan Nemeth
  3. 1 Dec2023
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Aircraft and €8m in drugs seized at airport as gardaí target west Dublin gang

    Adds the arrest stage, the aircraft and a 4X4 vehicle seized, the ages of the two men, the agencies involved, the detention under Section 50 and the claim that the men are from Hungary.

    suspect, 40s, malesuspect, 60s, male
  4. 1 Dec2023
    Chargedgarda.ie, follow-up
    Court Appearance - €8 Million Heroin Seized by GNDOCB and Revenue, Co. Dublin and Co. Kildare. 1st December, 2023.

    Garda press release confirming the two men arrested over the seizure have been charged, with their ages given as 40s and 60s, and that they are due in court on 4 December 2023. Names are not given.

    accused, 40s, maleaccused, 60s, male