Two arrests as gardaí seize more than €3m worth of cocaine and €353,000 cash

Gardaí searched more than 37 dwellings, businesses and vehicles in Dublin and Wicklow on Thursday

The seizures were part of ongoing investigations into drug trafficking in the east of the country.

Two people have been arrested after more than €3m worth of cocaine was seized by gardaí after searches in Dublin and Wicklow. 

As part of ongoing investigations into drug trafficking in the east of the country, Garda officers undertook a series of searches on Thursday.

The operation was led by the Serious Crime Investigation team, Drugs and Specialist Support Units of the Dublin Metropolitan Region South, with assistance from the Dublin Crime Response Team, personnel from the Clondalkin, Blackrock, Dún Laoghaire, Bray and Wicklow districts, the Garda Dog Unit, the Customs Canine Unit and the Armed Support Unit.

During the searches of more than 37 dwellings, businesses and vehicles, gardaí discovered:

• 44kg of cocaine following a search of a vehicle in Wicklow. The drugs are estimated to be valued at €3.1m;
• €213,000 in cash at a residence in Clondalkin, with €140,000 seized in further searches, leading to a total of €353,000 seized as part of the operation;
• In excess of €280,000 frozen in bank accounts;
• Eight vehicles, estimated to be worth over €200,000 seized as evidence of money laundering/proceeds of crime;
• A quantity of jewellery, including designer watches, electronic devices, laptops, and smartphones.

A man in his 30s is currently detained at a Garda station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region in connection with the discovery of the cocaine. He is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. 

A man, also aged in his 30s, is currently detained at a Garda station in Dublin, under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 as part of the investigation into the discovered cash in Clondalkin.

Gardaí added "investigations are ongoing".