Gardaí in Co. Laois seized over €2 million worth of illegal drugs, including cocaine and ketamine, on Friday, leading to the arrest of one man.
This seizure is part of ongoing investigations under Operation Tara, which targets drug trafficking networks.
The Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau, with support from the Clondalkin Drugs Unit, intercepted a vehicle on the M7 motorway in Co. Laois on Friday evening.
Gardaí discovered and seized approximately €100,000 worth of suspected cocaine from the vehicle.
A man in his 30s was arrested at the scene and is currently being held under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Garda station in Dublin.
Following the arrest, a search was conducted at a residence in West Dublin. This resulted in the seizure of approximately €160,000 worth of cannabis, €1.2 million worth of ketamine, €530,000 worth of cocaine, and €210,000 worth of diamorphine.
Cash and other items were also seized by Gardaí during the search.
According to a Garda spokesperson, the seized drugs have an estimated street value of €2.2 million. They have been sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
Investigations are continuing.
Operation Tara was launched in July 2021.
“The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle, and prosecute drug trafficking networks at all levels – international, national, and local – involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale, and supply of controlled drugs,” the Garda spokesperson stated on Saturday.
