Four arrested after cannabis worth €8.5m seized in Dublin

Four men have been arrested after cannabis with an estimated street value of €8.5m was seized by gardaí following a planned search of a business premises in Dublin 12.

Shortly after 3pm yesterday, gardaí intercepted two vehicles and searched a premises in the Ballymount area of Dublin 12 under Operation Tara.

During the investigation, 429kg of cannabis, with an estimated value of €8.5m was seized.

The men, aged 31, 45, 52 and 58, were arrested under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 for offences of facilitating and enhancing a criminal organisation to commit drug trafficking offences.

They are being held at garda stations in the Dublin region.

The joint operation was carried out by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Tallaght Drug Unit supported by Revenue.

Following the operation, the head of Organised and Serious Crime, Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly said: "This operation is another example of our commitment to target the enablers and facilitators of global drug trafficking networks and our ongoing efforts to make Ireland a difficult environment for them to operate in."