Gardai seize €2.8m worth of cocaine and Nitrous Oxide canisters

FOURTY kilogrammes of cocaine with a street value of €2.8 million (subject to analysis), over 2000 canisters of Nitrous Oxide and €78,000 in cash was recovered by Gardai on Tuesday during an ongoing investigation targeting organised crime activity under Operation TARA.

Members of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau supported by the Special Crime Task Force intercepted two vehicles shortly after 11am in the Ballyfermot and Blanchardstown areas.

In addition, a planned search of a business premises in the Long Mile Road area was conducted with the assistance of the Garda Dog Unit and personnel attached to the Divisional Drug Units in Ballyfermot and Sundrive Road Garda stations.

Also recovered was a Hydraulic Drugs Press, a quantity of mixing agent, drug mixing paraphernalia, a money counter and several communications devices.

Eight persons, seven men and one woman, with ages ranging between late 20s and early 50s, were arrested in relation to drug trafficking and were detained, pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996, at Garda Stations in the Dublin region.

Gardai say investigations are ongoing.

Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly of Organised and Serious Crime said: “Today’s operation and substantial seizure of cocaine has shown An Garda Síochána is determined to disrupt the distribution networks of organised groups who cause harm to our communities”

UPDATE:

Two of the males arrested, following the seizure of €2.8 million worth of cocaine, 2,000 canisters of nitrous oxide and €78,000 in cash, in Dublin on Tuesday, February 14, have been released without charge.

The other six people arrested remain in Garda custody at this time.

UPDATE 16 February 2023:

Four people arrested in connection with the €2.8million cocaine seizure in Dublin on Tuesday, February 14, have now been charged.

The four, three men and one woman, are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin, this morning, Thursday, February 16.

Two more men have since been released without charge. A file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.