Retired senior garda arrested on suspicion of assisting drugs gang

A retired senior garda has been arrested on suspicion of passing information to a major drugs gang during an operation which saw the seizure of €600,000 worth of cannabis.

The man, aged in his early 60s, was the only suspect arrested during an operation by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation on Wednesday which involved searches at five properties in Dublin.

Detectives uncovered 30kg of cannabis, worth an estimated €600,000, as well as €47,000 in cash during the operation.

The ex-garda was arrested on suspicion of “enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation to commit or facilitate a serious offence”.

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This an offence under section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006. It is understood this took the form of allegedly passing on sensitive information to the gang about Garda operations.

The suspect is currently being held for questioning at Irishtown Garda Station in Dublin.

“On Wednesday 29th September, 2021, personnel attached to the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) participated in an organised crime related operation, in the course of which five (5) searches were conducted in Dublin,” the Garda said in a statement on Wednesday night.

“In the course of the operation thirty (30) kgs of cannabis herb with an estimated street value of €600,000 (subject to analysis) and cash in the amount of €47,000 was located and seized.”

One male suspect was arrested in the course of the operation to date “on suspicion of involvement in offences contrary to the provisions of section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006, relating to alleged enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation to commit or facilitate a serious offence.

“The arrested person is currently detained at Irishtown Garda Station, pursuant to the provisions of section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.”