Gardaí seized approximately €300,000 of suspected drugs and arrested five people during a number of searches conducted as part of Operation Tara in the Finglas South area on Friday, 18th November, 2022, to disrupt criminal activity and the sale and supply of drugs in the vicinity.
The searches were carried out by the District Detective Unit at Finglas Garda Station and assisted by the Finglas Divisional Drugs Unit. The Finglas Drug Unit, the Finglas Unit D Core Unit, Finglas Community Policing, the DMR West Search Team, the Armed Support Unit and the Garda Dog Unit also assisted with this operation.
At approximately 10:20am, a search was conducted under warrant at a residence at an apartment complex in the Finglas South area where suspected cocaine with an estimated value of €20,000 was seized along with a sum of controlled tablets and cash.
A woman in her 30s and a man in his 20s were arrested at the scene and taken to Finglas Garda Station where they were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.
In a follow up-search at a residence in a separate apartment block at this complex, Gardaí discovered a suspected cannabis grow-house in a downstairs bedroom and in an upstairs hot press.
Gardaí also discovered a sophisticated operation suspected of manufacturing cannabis jellies which included cooking equipment, jelly casts, food dyes and cannabis oils.
A large number of cannabis jellies which were pre-packed were seized by Gardaí.
Three men (two in their 30s and one in his 50s) were arrested at the scene, taken to Finglas and Blanchardstown Garda Stations and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.
Gardaí also seized suspected cocaine and cannabis during searches of communal areas of this apartment complex, along with a crypto-currency mining rig.
In total, €300,000 of suspected drugs (€100,000 cocaine and €200,000 cannabis) was seized along with €14,000 in cash. All of the drugs seized will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.
The woman in her 30s arrested has since been charged and bailed to appear at Blanchardstown District Court on Friday, 9th December, 2022, at 10:30am.
The man in his 20s has since been released without charge and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The three other men arrested as part of this operation are still being detained.
Speaking about the searches and ongoing investigation Chief Superintendent Finbarr Murphy, Blanchardstown Garda Station, said:
"I welcome the results of these searches led by local Gardaí in the Finglas area, supported by Regional and National Units, working hard to keep the citizens of Finglas and the wider Dublin Region safe. It is of serious concern that what appears to be a cannabis jelly manufacturing operation has been discovered and now dismantled. We have previously seen a number of children hospitalized, seriously ill, as a result of consuming cannabis jelly products. The production of these products is an insidious, clear attempt by organized crime groups to normalise these illegal activities. These products designed to look like normal edible jellies are dangerous, not just to children but to any person consuming them. An Garda Síochána will continue to work with all relevant agencies to make every effort to prevent such products from circulating in our communities.”
Investigations are ongoing.
