Previously unknown Dublin gang linked to €5m cocaine seizure

The seizure occurred after gardaí stopped and searched a vehicle and a residential premises in the Allenwood area of Kildare

During the course of the searches approximately 72kg of cocaine valued at an estimated €5m was recovered.

A previously unknown Dublin gang is suspected of being behind a major consignment of cocaine that was seized in Co Kildare.

The group is described as having been operating "under the radar" and that key members have not been previously arrested for serious gangland crimes.

Detectives attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) uncovered 72kgs of cocaine during a search of a vehicle and a house in the Allenwood area on Tuesday afternoon.

Officers believe that a gang from Tallaght, south west Dublin, is behind the consignment.

The assessment that this outfit, which has been previously unknown as a major drugs gang, was capable, both financially and logistically, to pay for and import such a large delivery of cocaine, indicates not only a very profitable market but also the willingness of gangs to step up to another level in organised crime.

“Yeah, it means there are groups who are able to front up the cash, who see there is a gap in the market with a number of the top suppliers either cornered abroad or under pressure at home,” one source said.

The Kinahan cartel, while still involved at a global level in drug trafficking, has significantly cut back its operations in Britain and Ireland as a result of police successes.

Another drug network — the Family, based in west Dublin — which has replaced the Kinahan cartel as Ireland’s ‘Number One’ gang, is under mounting pressure after repeated seizures of large amounts of their drugs.

The Irish Examiner understands that the Tallaght gang is tied in with an Eastern European crew, with the latter thought to be involved in the distribution network, supplying the cocaine to smaller gangs.

Gardaí suspect that an Eastern European gang was also involved with an Irish organised crime group in the seizure of 199kgs of cocaine last week at a makeshift warehouse facility in Mountmellick, Co Laois.

Again the Eastern European crew in that case was suspected of being involved in the distribution of the haul to a number of other dealing gangs.

The Irish group, led by two brothers from the Finglas area of north Dublin, was hit in an investigation led by the Dublin Crime Response Team.

The massive seizure of cocaine is one of the biggest inland hauls of the drug in recent years.

This group has targeted in July 2024 by the Dublin Crime Response Team and an estimated €10m-worth of drugs and over €1m in cash was seized off them.

In a statement about the Allenwood seizure, Garda HQ said: “Yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon, Gardaí attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau stopped and searched a vehicle and a residential premises in the Allenwood area of Kildare. During the course of these searches approximately 72 kilos of cocaine valued at an estimated €5m was recovered.

“Two men, aged in in their 50s and 60s, were arrested pursuant to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 in relation to facilitating and enhancing drug distribution activities for an organised crime group and are currently detained, pursuant to the provisions of Section 50 of Criminal Justice Act 2007, at a Kildare Garda Station.” 

This provision allows for up to seven days’ detention on successive court applications.

Following the Kildare operation, Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis of Organised and Serious Crime said: "This is another significant seizure of cocaine destined for the Irish market. An Garda Síochána and our law enforcement partners are committed to targeting those engaged in drug related organised crime that leads to harm, intimidation and violence in our communities nationwide.” 

The Garda statement said that investigations were ongoing.