Gardaí and Revenue’s Customs officers have seized drugs valued at almost €1.2 million and €30,000 in cash in three separate operations in Dublin.
Three men have been arrested for questioning in relation to the separate seizures.
In two of the operations - which involved Customs officers working with the Garda National Drugs Unit and local drugs unit at Balbriggan Garda station - 2kg of MDMA, valued at €120,000, was seized as well as 26kg of herbal cannabis, valued at €525,000.
A 29-year-old man arrested in relation to the MDMA seizure, on Wednesday, has since been released without charge and a file was being prepared for the DPP. Another man, aged 30 years, who was arrested for questioning about the herbal cannabis seizure was still being held at a west Dublin Garda station on Thursday.
The third Garda operation, also on Wednesday, resulted in the arrest of a man after a search of a yard in west Dublin yielded cocaine valued at €525,000 and €30,000 in cash which gardaí believe is connected to the drugs trade. The seizure was made during a pre-planned operation in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, on Wednesday evening.
Det Supt Paul Murphy said the intelligence-led operation was “a continuation of local gardaí's efforts to tackle serious and organised crime gangs whom are supplying controlled drugs to our local communities”, adding the investigation into the seizure was ongoing.
The seizure was part of Operation Tara, which is a national operation targeting the drugs trade - including small and medium-sized dealers - aimed at degrading the capacity of drugs gangs.