Gardaí seize drugs valued at €13m in ‘significant blow to crime group’

Almost €13 million worth of drugs have been seized in a Garda operation on Tuesday credited with ending a major crack cocaine distribution line.

Gardaí said officers from the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT) have been conducting an “ongoing intelligence led operation” in Mountmellick, Co Laois and a number of other locations.

Approximately 182kg of cocaine and 4kg of cannabis herb have been seized with an estimated value in excess of €12.8 million.

Three men have been arrested and are being detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 at unnamed stations in the eastern region.

The Irish Times understands the men are from eastern Europe. Gardaí believe the drugs had been processed and mixed with bulking agents in the Republic after being imported into the country.

“This intelligence-led operation conducted by the DCRT has taken down the main supply network for cocaine and crack cocaine into West Dublin,” said Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary of the Dublin Metropolitan Region.

“This operation targeting the sourcing, preparation and distribution of substantial quantities of these illicit drugs, stopped them from entering our communities and is another significant blow to an organised criminal group.”

Gardaí said investigations are ongoing.