Major drug trafficking gang ‘disrupted and dismantled’

Gardai have “disrupted and dismantled” a major gang which operated drug trafficking into Ireland, Detective Chief Superintendent John McMahon of the Garda National Drug Unit said last night.

He said the Garda seized drugs worth more than €5 million and seized six guns and ammunition following a series of swoops on suspects in two counties.

The huge haul follows months of surveillance and intelligence gathering by the drugs unit backed up by other Garda squads. Gardaí say the operation aided by the Police Service of Northern Ireland involved a large number of personnel and person hours.

The haul, which is estimated to be worth around €5.3 million included 200 kg of cannabis resin, 150 kg of herbal cannabis, 96,000 ecstasy tablets and a kilo of a powdered substance.

There were also six firearms, including a Steyr machine pistol, found in special compartments hidden within a number of vehicles that were also seized by gardai. A large quantity of ammunition was also found.

“This operation is part of on-going Garda activity to tackle organised crime and take drugs and firearms off our streets. This seizure shows how organised crime gangs from Ireland and abroad are using the profits from the sale of drugs such as cannabis to fund the importation of further drugs and firearms,” said Det McMahon.

Nine men, inlcuding Irish and foreign nationals, were arrested and are currently being held for questioning at Ballymun, Blanchardstown, Finglas, Clondalkin and Store St garda stations.

They can be detained without charge for up to seven days under the provisions of Section 2 (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

Meanwhile in Cork arrested a man and a woman in their 50s following the seizure of € 40,000 worth of drugs during a search of house on the city’s northside.

Members of the Gurranebraher District Drugs Squad found half a kilo of cocaine during a search of a house in the Bride Valley View area of Fairhill around 6pm.

Officers arrested a man and woman both in their 50s at the scene and brought to Mayfield Garda Station for questioning about the drugs.

Both were detained under drug trafficking legislation which allows gardai hold suspects for up to seven days before they have to be released or charge.

Gardaí said the seizure was an intelligence led operation and they believed the drugs were destined for sale or supply in the local Cork market.

The drugs are due to be sent to the state laboratory at Abbottstown for analysis which gardaí hope will establish the purity of the cocaine