Cocaine 'destined for the Christmas social scene' seized by gardaí

Gardaí implore public to 'think before you use this coming holiday season'

Gardaí have arrested a man and a woman in their 20s and have seized up to €2.5million worth of cocaine that "was destined for the Christmas social scene" during an operation in Dublin this Wednesday.

On Wednesday, November 27, as a result of ongoing investigations targeting organised crime activity under Operation TARA, personnel attached to the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau intercepted two vehicles shortly after 8.30 pm in the Swords area of North County Dublin.

They also conducted a search of a residential premises in Shankill, Co. Dublin.

During the course of this operation, 38 kilos of cocaine with an estimated street sale value of €2.6 million (subject to analysis), €66,000 in cash, a cocaine press, money counters and other drug distribution paraphernalia were recovered.

One (1) male aged 28 and one (1) female aged 22 years were arrested pursuant to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 on suspicion of facilitating and enhancing drug distribution activities for an organised crime group.

They are currently detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, at a Garda Station in the Dublin region and can be held for up to seven days.

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Investigations are ongoing, according to a statement from An Garda Síochana.

Commenting on the operation, Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis of Organised and Serious Crime called the operation "another significant seizure of cocaine which we believe was destined for the Christmas social scene in particular".

"An Garda Síochána and our law enforcement partners are continuing to play our part in tackling drug-related organised crime and intimidation.

"Think before you use this coming holiday season, as consumption fuels supply and demand in this harmful illicit industry," she continued.

"We all have a part to play.”