€5m worth of cocaine seized in major Garda operation

Gardaí have seized and estimated €5 million worth of cocaine following a search operation in Co Kildare, arresting two men in the process.

Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 11th, February) , Gardaí attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau stopped and searched a vehicle and a residential premises in the Allenwood area of Kildare. During the course of these searches approximately 72 kilos of cocaine valued at an estimated €5 million was recovered.

Two men, aged in in their 50s and 60s, were arrested pursuant to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 in relation to facilitating and enhancing drug distribution activities for an organised crime group and are currently detained, pursuant to the provisions of Section 50 of Criminal Justice Act 2007, at a Kildare Garda Station.

Following the operation, Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis of Organised and Serious Crime said it was another significant seizure of cocaine destined for the Irish market.

"An Garda Síochána and our law enforcement partners are committed to targeting those engaged in drug related organised crime that leads to harm, intimidation and violence in our communities nationwide.”

This seizure forms part of Operation Tara which aims 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.