Drug baron hit by major garda seizure
Officers from the Garda National Drugs Unit (GNDU) seized eight kilos of drugs and arrested one man at a rural location in rural Kildare.
The drug baron, aged 34 and originally from west Dublin, is believed by gardaí to be a major supplier to gangs in Dublin, Limerick and elsewhere.
The drugs were found in a field at Breathnachstown, which is between Naas and Kilcullen, at around 10pm on Thursday.
Gardaí have established that two of the eight kilos are heroin, but are still trying to establish if the remainder is heroin or cocaine.
Initial tests yesterday indicated that all the drugs may be heroin. This would make it the single biggest haul of heroin so far this year.
Gardaí believe it was destined for the Dublin market.
Detectives from the GNDU were yesterday questioning a man they arrested at the scene at Naas Garda Station.
The man, in his early 20s and from south Dublin, was detained under the Drug Trafficking Act, allowing him to be held for a maximum of seven days.
According to sources all the evidence would suggest the haul belonged to the 34-year-old baron, who lives in Co Kildare.
The baron, who has INLA connections, has come to the attention of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). He is known to drive a 04 luxury car and holidays in Spain up to five times a year.
As well as supplying Dublin, he has supplied one of the feuding families in Limerick, the Keane-Collopys, for several years.
In recent times, he is also suspected of supplying the other side of the feud, the Ryan-McCarthy-Dundon gangs.
Gardaí believe the Kildare seizure may be connected to a cannabis seizure last week, and the discovery of a cocaine mixing factory at a house in Rathgar earlier this year.
