Automatic checking system alert about car's tax led to garda's discovery of €35k of cocaine

Garda Patricia Hanley said she got a notification from Garda authorities via Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) to stop the vehicle

When the car was seen swerving in and out of the hard shoulder, the blue lights of the garda car were activated to signal for the car to stop. A search of the vehicle was carried out and €35,000 worth of cocaine was located along with small quantities of other drugs. File picture

Irregularities relating to car tax showed up on an automatic checking system and when gardaí stopped the car they found something much more serious — namely a €35,000 cocaine stash.

Garda Patricia Hanley testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that on June 6, 2024, she got a notification from Garda authorities via Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) to stop a particular vehicle, namely a car driven by Tara White on the M8 near Kilworth on June 6, 2024, because of issues concerning the car such as road tax.