Gardai investigating people suspected of being involved in an organised crime group have seized a huge haul of drugs and made an arrest.
As part of a joint operation with Revenue, officers searched a house in Newbridge, Co Kildare yesterday under warrant.
During the course of the search, around 5kg of herbal cannabis with an estimated street value of €100,000 was seized, as well as Diamorphine valued at approximately €7,000 and €30,000 in cash.
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A man, aged in his 60s, was arrested at the scene. He was taken to Newbridge Garda Station where he was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. He has since been charged and is due to appear before court at a later date.
This operation was part of Operation Tara, a national anti-drugs strategy that 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.
In a statement, a Garda spokesperson said: “On Wednesday, 21st of December 2022 as part of ongoing investigations targeting persons suspected to be involved in an organised crime group operating in the Kildare area, a joint operation was conducted by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), the Kildare District Drugs Unit and personnel attached to the Revenue Customs Service.
“During the course of this operation approximately 5kg of herbal cannabis with an estimated street value of €100,000 was seized as well as Diamorphine valued at approximately €7,000 and cash to the value of approximately €30,000 was seized.
“Gardaí arrested a male (aged in his 60s) at the scene. He was taken to Newbridge Garda Station where he was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. He has since been charged and is due to appear before court at a later date.”
A Revenue spokesperson added: “Yesterday (21/12/2022), as part of an intelligence led operation, Revenue officers seized approximately 5kgs of herbal cannabis and a small quantity of diamorphine with a combined estimated value of €107,000, following the search of a residential premises, under warrant, in the Newbridge area of County Kildare. €31,000 cash was also discovered and seized by An Garda Síochána.
“These seizures were made as a result of a joint operation conducted by Revenue’s Customs Service, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) and the Kildare District Drugs unit.
“A man in his 60s was arrested by An Garda Síochána and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Newbridge Garda Station. Investigations are ongoing.
“This operation was part of Revenue’s ongoing joint investigations targeting organised crime groups and the importation, sale and supply of illegal drugs. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding drug smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.”
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