Man arrested as €10m worth of cocaine seized in Kilkenny drug bust

More than €10m worth of cocaine has been seized by gardaí after a targeted operation in the south east of the country.

More than €10m worth of cocaine has been seized by gardaí after a targeted operation in the South-East of the country.

Officers attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, assisted by the Waterford Drugs and Crime Units, carried out a number of raids on Tuesday.

These included searches of two businesses and a home in Waterford, as well as the interception of a heavy goods vehicle on the M9 motorway in Kilkenny.

During the operation, 152kg of cocaine, valued at €10.6m, was discovered in a sophisticated vehicle concealment.

One man, aged 60, was arrested as part of the operation.

He is being held in a garda station in the East in relation to facilitating and enhancing drug distribution activities for an organised crime group.

The operation was supported by the Revenue Customs Service, the Garda Dog Unit, and the Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit.

Speaking about the operation, Garda Assistant Commissioner said: "This is a further example of An Garda Síochána's commitment to target the enablers and facilitators of organised crime. 

"The recently published European Union Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (EU-SOCTA 2025) highlights that serious and organised crime undermines the very foundations of political, economic and social cohesion and stability through illicit proceeds, the perpetuation of violence and the extension of corruption. 

"I thank the public for their support and encourage everybody to play their part. Report suspicious activity in confidence to the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111."

The investigation is ongoing.