Dublin gardaí reveal €4.9m drugs haul

Gardaí from Clondalkin have seized heroin and cocaine with an estimated value of €4.9m, pending analysis.

Gardaí attached to the Clondalkin Detective and Drugs Units carried out a planned search of a premises at Bluebell Industrial Estate, Dublin, last Tuesday.

During the search 32.5 kilos of suspected heroin and a ½ kilo of suspected cocaine, pending analysis, were discovered and seized.

A handgun and a quantity of ammunition were also seized during the search.

To date, the ongoing investigation has led to the seizure of heroin and cocaine with a total estimated value of €5.2m, five firearms, ammunition and cash.

A 39-year-old man, arrested last Monday in connection with this investigation, remains in Garda custody, detained at Clondalkin Garda Station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.

The investigation is ongoing.

"This is a significant seizure of heroin, which causes terrible damage in communities throughout this country," said a Garda spokesperson.

"This operation has taken drugs, firearms and ammunition off our streets, which could have caused terrible damage.

"This lengthy operation has caused major disruption to an Irish organised crime gang with international connections and is part of our on-going strategy of targeting criminal gangs.

"We remain determined to do all we can to protect communities from the scourge of drugs and we thank communities for their support in this."