Ireland Woman in 30s arrested after €1.7m heroin and cannabis seized in Carlow
On Sunday 8 February 2026, gardaí seized drugs with an estimated street value of more than €1.7 million in Carlow town, Co Carlow, after stopping and searching a car and then searching a house. A woman aged in her 30s was arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996, and the seized items were reported on 9 February. The seized items were submitted to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, and the latest reports say she was being detained at a Garda station in the Eastern Region while investigations continued.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested8 Feb
3 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí seized drugs with an estimated street value of more than €1.7 million in Carlow town on Sunday 8 February 2026.
- Suspected heroin and cannabis worth more than €136,000 were recovered from the car, though the Irish Mirror reports only cannabis worth that amount was found in the car.
- Cannabis herb and resin worth almost €50,000 were seized from the house.
- Alprazolam and Zopiclone tablets were seized from the house.
- Where
- The Carlow Drugs Unit stopped and searched a car in Carlow town; the Irish Mirror names the unit the Carlow Drugs Initiative.
- A follow-up search of a house in Carlow town found 12kg of suspected heroin worth an estimated €1.68 million.
- Investigation
- A woman aged in her 30s was arrested and detained at a Garda station in the Eastern Region under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
- The searches formed part of Operation Tara, an ongoing investigation targeting the sale and supply of drugs.
- All seized items were submitted to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
- Investigations are ongoing, according to gardaí on 9 February 2026.
23 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí seized illegal drugs with an estimated street value of more than €1.7 million in Carlow town. (garda.ie)
- whatSuspected heroin and cannabis worth more than €136,000 were recovered from the car. (garda.ie, irishtimes.com)
- what12kg of suspected heroin worth €1.68 million was seized from a house in Carlow town. (garda.ie)
- whatCannabis herb and resin worth almost €50,000 was seized from the house. (garda.ie)
- whatAlprazolam and Zopiclone tablets were seized from the house. (garda.ie)
- whatDrugs with an estimated street value of more than €1.7 million were seized in Co. Carlow. (irishtimes.com)
- what12kg of suspected heroin worth an estimated €1.68m was seized from the house. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCannabis herb and resin with a value of almost €50,000 were seized. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAlprazolam and Zopiclone tablets were also seized. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHeroin worth almost €1.7 million was seized by gardai. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCannabis with a street value of more than €136,000 was discovered in the car on Sunday. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatFurther cannabis and tablets were found alongside the heroin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe heroin was valued at €1.68 million. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe Carlow Drugs Unit stopped and searched a car in Carlow town. (garda.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whereA follow-up search was conducted at a house in Carlow town. (irishtimes.com)
- whereA follow-up search of a house in Carlow Town found 12 kilogrammes of suspected heroin. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA woman in her 30s was arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. (garda.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationAll seized items will be submitted to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. (garda.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe searches were part of Operation Tara, an ongoing investigation targeting the sale and supply of drugs. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardai from the Carlow Drugs Initiative stopped and searched a car in Carlow town. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe suspected drugs have been submitted for forensic testing. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA woman aged in her 30s was arrested under drug trafficking legislation. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 9 Feb2026Woman arrested over €1.7 million heroin haul
Initial report of the arrest and seizure; drugs submitted for forensic testing and investigations ongoing.
suspect, 30s, female - 9 Feb2026Woman arrested as drugs valued at €1.7 million seized by gardaí in Co Carlow
Initial arrest and seizure report; woman detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996, items sent to Forensic Science Ireland.
suspect, 30s, female - 8 Feb2026Operation Tara: Seizure of €1.7 million Worth of Drugs, Carlow Town, 8th February 2026
Official Garda press release providing further detail on the seizure, including the specific quantities, the Alprazolam and Zopiclone tablets, the woman's detention under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996, and the submission of items to Forensic Science Ireland.
suspect, 30s, female