Issue Date: 30th May 2024
Gardaí have seized over €250,000 in cash, four vehicles worth over €100,000 in addition to a number of other items, as part of ongoing investigations into the activities of a drug trafficking network based in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) and Eastern Region.
A total of 42 searches (38 private residences, three business premises' and a safety deposit box) were conducted on Tuesday 28th May 2024 and Wednesday 29th May 2024 by the Serious Crime Investigation, Drugs and Specialist Support Units of the DMR South with assistance by Gardaí from the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT), the DMR West, the Garda Dog Unit, the DMR North Central, and the Garda Armed Support Unit.
While the majority of searches were undertaken in the DMR South, a number of searches were also conducted in the DMR West, DMR North Central, DMR South Central, and in Co. Kildare.
In total, €263,500 in cash was seized during the course of these searches in addition to a Volkswagen Golf GTI (valued at approximately €40,000), a Mercedes CLA Estate (valued at approximately €40,000), a Yamaha R1 sports motorcycle (valued at approximately €20,000) and a Citreon Dispatch (valued at approximately €5,000 and containing a specially made concealed compartment in the floor of the van for transporting drugs/cash/firearms).
€109,000 of suspected zopiclone tablets and €4,000 of alprazolam tablets were also seized.
Bank drafts for €40,000, deeds for three Spanish properties and two cash counting machines were also seized. A number of designer watches, including Rolex and Tag Heuer, were also located during these searches and seized alongside over €50,000 of assorted designer clothing and footwear.
One male has been arrested in connection with this operation. He is currently being detained at a Garda Station in the Dublin Region under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.
Investigations are ongoing.
