Suspected cocaine worth €3.2m seized in Dublin

Gardaí suspect a large cocaine haul, worth an estimated €3.2 million, is owned by a crime gang from West Dublin which has been linked to other multi million euro drugs and cash seizures in recent years.

Gardaí believe the gang, which has a stronghold in Ballyfermot, West Dublin, was using a suspect living in Clondalkin to store the drugs.

The gang is suspected of involvement in the fatal shooting of Gary Carey (41), who died on August 5th some six weeks after being shot, in a drug-related attack, while he left the gym at the Hilton Hotel in Kilmainham, Dublin 8.

The gang was also linked to cash and drug seizures of up to €4 million in recent years and has grown in size as the Irish-based members of the Kinahan cartel have been under intense investigation in the Republic.

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It has been under investigation by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and is also at the centre of a Criminal Assets Bureau inquiry, during which some of its assets have been seized. Some of its leading members have spent time in prison in Ireland and continental Europe for drug crime.

The latest consignment of drugs gardaí believe is linked to the gang was discovered during a planned operation in Clondalkin on Sunday evening. Members of Ronanstown District Drugs Unit and Detective Unit searched a house in the west Dublin suburb based on intelligence.

About 40 vacuum-packed blocks of cocaine were discovered in the property, along with €21,500 in cash and assorted drug paraphernalia.

A man in his late 30s was arrested. He was taken to Lucan Garda station where he was being detained on Monday evening under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Drug Trafficking Act.

Sunday’s operation formed part of Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy launched in July last year under which gardaí are targeting international, national and local drugs gangs operating in the Republic.

Garda sources said the continued discovery of major drugs hauls reflected a booming drugs trade but also the high grade intelligence about drugs gangs being gathered by the force. While the Republic has experienced cost of living pressures this year, Garda sources said it was having little discernible impact on the demand for drugs or the size of the illicit drugs market.

Meanwhile, Revenue officers seized drugs worth more than €276,000 in Athlone last week.

During routine operations last Thursday and Friday, Revenue officers examining parcels at a premises in Athlone discovered over 13kg of herbal cannabis and a small amount of ecstasy.

The drugs had a combined estimated value of more than €276,000 and were discovered concealed in parcels that originated in multiple locations across mainland Europe and were destined for addresses across the country.

Investigations are ongoing, Revenue said. The seizure was part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal drugs.

If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.