In a significant drug bust, Irish police have confiscated illegal substances valued at over €14 million, predominantly cocaine, in a coordinated operation in Mountmellick, a small town in the midlands of Ireland. This operation has been described as a crucial setback for organized crime groups operating in the region.
The police operation resulted in the seizure of 182 kilograms of cocaine and 4 kilograms of cannabis, all discovered within a commercial facility. Additionally, authorities located another 17 kilograms of narcotics along with €25,000 in cash in a vehicle in Dublin.
Arrests and ongoing investigations
Law enforcement officials reported that eight vehicles were seized, along with various drug paraphernalia, which are currently undergoing forensic analysis. In connection with this operation, three men have been arrested and are now in custody, being questioned under the provisions of the country’s Drugs Trafficking Act.
“This intelligence-led operation conducted by the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT) has taken down the main supply network for cocaine and crack cocaine into West Dublin,” stated Paul Cleary, assistant commissioner for the police force’s Dublin Metropolitan Region.
Cleary further emphasized the operation’s importance by highlighting that it specifically targeted the logistics involved in sourcing, preparing, and distributing considerable amounts of these illegal drugs, effectively preventing them from infiltrating local communities. He noted that this action represents another substantial blow to organized crime.
Heightened focus on drug-related crime
As investigations continue, the issue of drug-related organized crime has increasingly attracted the attention of both the public and police in Ireland. Recent years have seen several high-profile operations that intercepted large shipments of cocaine destined for the Irish market or for resale in the UK and continental Europe.
Notably, just hours before the announcement of the recent drug seizure, six men were denied an attempt to evade trial on charges linked to a massive 2.25-tonne cocaine shipment valued at €157 million. This cargo was seized from a Panamanian-flagged vessel in Irish waters in September 2023, marking it as the largest cocaine haul ever confiscated in Ireland. The arrests were made during a significant operation carried out by the Irish Defence Forces.