8m euro drugs seizure by An Garda Síochána
Cocaine and cannabis with a combined value in excess of eight million euro has been seized by An Garda Síochána in two intelligence-led operations targeting transnational drug trafficking networks.
On Monday (June 11) officers attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, assisted by Revenue Commissioners Customs Service and officers from the Eastern Region, searched a business premises at Ballyhale, Co Kilkenny and recovered cannabis with an estimated street value in excess of 6.9 million euro.
Two males, one aged in his forties and one in his thirties, were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking and are currently being detained under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at Kilkenny Garda Station.
On the same day, Gardaí, along with Revenue officers, seized approximately 16kgs of cocaine with an estimated value of 1.1 million euro at Dublin Airport.
An Garda Síochána said the seizure was made as a result of a joint operation conducted by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and Revenue’s Customs Service. Assistance was also provided by law enforcement agencies in Germany and South America.
Officers arrested three men in the environs of Dublin Airport in connection with the seizure, it added.
They are currently being detained under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Blanchardstown and Coolock Garda Stations.
An Garda Síochána said: “The arrests followed an intelligence led Garda operation, targeting transnational drug trafficking networks, which was conducted in the course of Operation TARA, the focus of which is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks.”