€10.5m cannabis haul equals 2007 total
The seizure of 1.5 tonnes of cannabis, with a final estimated street value of €10.5 million, is thought to be one of the biggest hauls of cannabis in recent years.
Four people, including one of the gang’s bosses, were arrested in the operation in Co Kildare, which was led by the Garda National Drugs Unit.
The senior gangster, aged 36, with addresses in Donaghmede and Coolock, north Dublin, was hailed as a major catch by gardaí.
It is believed that while carrying out his own drug operations, he also worked for one of Dublin’s biggest drug traffickers, a 37-year-old man based in Baldoyle, north Dublin.
This individual, in turn, has been closely linked with international Irish criminal George ‘The Penguin’ Mitchell, who is based in the Netherlands.
Gardaí suspect the Baldoyle man has become even more active recently following a gap in the market left by the murder of crime boss Martin “Marlo” Hyland in December 2006.
He is further linked with two brothers, also major drug traffickers, from Blanchardstown, west Dublin.
Of the other men arrested yesterday, one is from Ballymun, another from the North Strand area of the north inner city and the fourth man arrested is from Kildare. Two of the three arrested are aged 34 and another is aged 46.
Gardaí said the consignment was destined for the Dublin market. The haul will be a huge blow to the gang, who will be particularly hit financially. There will be internal inquiries in the gang as to how gardaí got their information.
Gardaí believe the property was an ideal distribution centre for the gang, given its remote and private setting.
Officers from the drugs unit, backed up by local gardaí, stopped two cars on the Naas Road near the Kill junction at 7.30am yesterday.
They found a total of 500kgs of cannabis in the vehicles and arrested the two drivers.
In a follow-up operation, they raided a property in Clongory, a rural area 7km from Newbridge.
At a large shed at the back of the property they uncovered one tonne of cannabis. Three firearms were seized, which gardaí suspect may be legally held, but officers are carrying out checks on them. They also impounded a 40ft lorry at the scene.
Garda experts were carrying out a detailed examination at the shed and property throughout yesterday.
Two of the four arrested were taken to Naas Garda Station and the other two to Newbridge Garda Station.
Officers are investigating if 135kgs of cannabis seized by the garda drugs unit last week in Ballyfermot, west Dublin, also came from the same centre.
Forensic tests will be carried out to determine if that cannabis is from the same consignment found in the Clongory property.
Gardaí said the haul brought to €25m the value of illegal drugs seized already this year.
Cannabis hauls in 2008
* February 6: 1.5 tonnes of cannabis resin seized in Co Kildare.
* February 2: 20kgs of cannabis resin seized at Dublin Airport.
* February 1: 135kgs of resin seized in Ballyfermot, west Dublin.
* January 29: 24kgs of herbal cannabis found in two separate searches at Dublin Airport.
* January 2: 16kgs of herbal cannabis seized at Dublin Airport.
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