GARDAÍ have described the seizure of drugs with an estimated street value of in excess of half a million euro as “very significant”, and revealed that the case was very close to a gangland-style operation.

A GARDA sergeant from outside the Kerry district pretended to be a member of the public when she handed in a black purse containing cash and a headache tablet to a garda on duty in Killarney Garda Station, the Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee heard yesterday.