Over €1.5M of suspected drugs and €39K in cash seized

Gardaí have seized over €1.5 million of suspected drugs, €39,750 in cash and arrested one man, following search operations in counties Kildare and Meath yesterday (Saturday), May 7, 2022.

Under Operation Tara, at approximately 11:30am, gardaí intercepted a vehicle on the M1 Motorway in County Meath. During the course of a search of this vehicle, approximately €39,750 in cash was located and seized. The occupant of this vehicle, a man in his 20s, was arrested at the scene and taken to Ashbourne Garda Station where he is currently being detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.

At approximately 12pm on Saturday, 7th May, 2022, a number of properties were searched in the Newbridge area of County Kildare as part of this investigation. Approximately €420,000 of suspected cocaine and €1.12 million of suspected cannabis were seized during the course of a search of one of these properties. Suspected mixing agents and other drug paraphernalia were also seized. All of the drugs seized will now be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.

Operation Tara is an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, which was launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in July 2021. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national, local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.