Gardai seize drugs worth €406k in search operation

THREE people have been arrested following the seizure of approximately €406,000 worth of cocaine and heroin during searches in Finglas and Lucan.

According to a Garda statement issued today, gardai made the seizure on Monday, April 17, as part of an operation aimed at tackling and disrupting the criminal activities of a West Finglas-based organised crime group.

A Garda spokesperson said: “At approximately 2.55pm, a search of a vehicle was conducted on the Newcastle Road in Lucan, County Dublin.

“During the course of this search, approximately €84,000 of suspected cocaine and €60,000 of suspected heroin was located and seized.

“A woman in her 40s was arrested at the scene and taken to a Dublin Garda Station where she was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.”

The spokesperson added: “Follow up searches were later conducted at three locations in Finglas, Dublin 11, where approximately €149,000 of suspected heroin and €113,000 of suspected cocaine were seized, in addition to €10,000 and £2,000 Sterling.

“Two men (aged in their 30s and 60s) were arrested and detained at Garda Stations in Dublin under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 and Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, respectively.

“The drugs seized totalling €406,000 (€209,000 heroin and €197,000 cocaine) will now be sent to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis.”

The man in his thirties has since been charged and is expected to appear before Blanchardstown District Court today, Tuesday.

The man in his sixties was also charged and station bailed to appear at Blanchardstown District Court at 10.30am on Friday, May 12.

The woman in her forties is still being detained at a Garda Station in Dublin.

The searches were conducted as part of Operation Tara by the Finglas Drugs Unit supported by the Finglas Detective Unit, Finglas Community Policing, Finglas Regular Unit and local Scenes of Crime Units.