Two charged after seizure of cocaine and cash in Bantry

Searches were carried out at a number of locations in the town, as part of Operation Tara 

Cocaine, cash and a small quantity of cash was found during a number of searches in the area. Picture: An Garda Síochána

Two men have been charged following a seizure of cocaine, cash and cannabis in Bantry, Co Cork. 

Gardaí carried out searches under warrant at a number of locations in Bantry on Tuesday.

Gardaí from Cork County Divisional Drugs Unit, assisted by members from the local Crime Unit, seized cocaine with an estimated value of €12,000. They also seized a small quantity of cannabis along with nearly €5,000 in cash and drug-related paraphernalia.

Two men, aged in their 30s and 40s were arrested during the operation. They were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Garda Station in Co. Cork.

One of the man, aged in his 30s, has been charged and is due to appear in court at a later date. The other, a man aged in his 40s, has been charged and is due to appear at Macroom District Court this Wednesday at 10.30am.

The seized drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.

According to a Garda spokesperson, the seizure forms part of Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy launched by the Garda Commissioner in July 2021.

"Operation Tara aims to disrupt, dismantle, and prosecute drug trafficking networks at all levels — international, national, and local — involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, and local sale and supply of controlled drugs," they said.