Eleven arrested over €3m worth of drugs in raids

MORE than €3 million worth of drugs have been seized and a total of 11 people are being questioned after separate garda raids around the country.

Nine people were arrested over a 24-hour period in Dublin, Meath and Kildare, while a further two people were arrested in Cork yesterday for drug offences.

The first consignment of drugs, believed to be cocaine, and thought to be worth up to €3m, was found at a premises in Celbridge, Co Kildare, along with a quantity of ammunition, on Monday night. Three people were arrested; two are being detained at Naas garda station and another at Newbridge garda station under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.

At 9am yesterday morning two men in their twenties were intercepted at Botanic Road in Glasnevin in Dublin.

It’s understood they may have been planning to execute a ‘hit’ when they were apprehended. They were taken to Santry and Whitehall garda stations for questioning under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.

A follow-up search was then carried out in Duleek in Co Meath at 11am yesterday when five high powered stolen vehicles were recovered. Gardaí said there were indications that the location had been used as a drug preparation area. A man and a woman were arrested and are being questioned under section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act.

Another search was then carried out at a residence in Clonee in Co Meath, where a second quantity of drugs, also believed to be cocaine, was seized. It’s understood that this consignment could have a potential street value of €500,000.

A man and a woman, also in their twenties, were arrested and are being held at Blanchardstown garda station.

The operations were led by the National Bureau of Crime Investigations, aided by other units including the Organised Crime Unit and the Emergency Response Unit. It’s understood that the initial raid in Co Kildare on Monday night was unconnected with the arrests made yesterday. It’s believed all those arrested yesterday and on Monday are Irish and either from Dublin or Meath. Garda spokesman Kevin Donohue said the operations were as a result of months of intelligence gathering which came to fruition with these operations.

Meanwhile, two people were arrested in Cork yesterday, following seizures of heroin and cocaine.