As part of an intelligence led operation into the sale and supply of drugs in Co. Laois, Gardaí attached to the Laois Divisional Drug Unit carried out a search under warrant late on Tuesday night, 3rd November, 2020.
At approximately 10.30p.m. on Tuesday, the search operation was carried out at an apartment in Portlaoise. During the course of the search Gardaí located cocaine and cannabis with an estimated street value of €72,500 (subject to analysis) and a large amount of drug paraphernalia and cash.
One man (early 30s) was arrested at the scene and was taken to Portlaoise Garda Station where he is currently detained under Section 2, of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. This man remains in Garda custody.
During a follow-up search of a vehicle in Portlaoise, Gardaí seized €3,500 of cocaine (subject to analysis) and over €3,000 in cash. One man (mid 30s) was arrested and taken to Portlaoise Garda Station where he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. This man has since been charged and will appear in court at a later date.
A second follow-up search was also carried out in Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo in the early hours of Wednesday morning, 4th November, 2020 and cannabis herb with an estimated street value of €10,000 was seized (subject to analysis).
Investigations ongoing