Man questioned over €500k drugs haul

Detectives were today questioning a man after cocaine and cannabis worth half a million euro was seized during an investigation into eastern European drugs gangs.

The 32-year-old was arrested in Birr, Co Offaly, yesterday during the joint operation by the Garda National Drugs Unit and Revenue’s Customs Service.

Investigating officers said they were following the activities of a Lithuanian drugs trafficking gang when they recovered the drugs.

There were several follow-up searches in Cork, Kerry and Meath, said a Garda spokesman.

“This arrest is the latest in Operation Chestnut, an investigation set up to target east European drugs trafficking gangs impacting on Ireland,” he added.

The cocaine and herbal cannabis, believed to have a potential street value of €500,000, has been sent for forensic examination.

The arrested man is being held at Tullamore Garda Station under the provisions of Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act.

The Revenue Customs Service said the haul included 6kgs of cocaine and 8kgs of herbal cannabis which had been hidden inside two vehicles that had arrived in Ireland by ferry through Dublin Port.

The sting operation was carried out by Customs, the Garda National Drugs Unit and foreign law enforcement agencies.

Separately, five men were arrested after detectives in Sligo and Leitrim seized cannabis and cocaine during a wave of raids in the counties.

A number of cannabis plants and cultivation equipment were also recovered in 12 searches since Sunday.

The investigation code-named Operation Clean Street, ongoing since last November, is targeting drug dealers in the Sligo area.