Gardai say they have disrupted the hierarchy of an organised crime gang after they seized more than 14 million euro worth of cocaine that was to be sold in communities in west Dublin.
Three men have been arrested following a major garda operation following months of planning by officers involved.
The Dublin Crime Response (DCR) Team is continuing the investigation following the seizure of drugs in Mountmellick, Co Laois, and a number of other locations on Tuesday.
Approximately 182kg of cocaine and 4kg of cannabis herb was seized.
Assistant Commissioner, Dublin Metropolitan Region, Paul Cleary, stands alongside a portion of the seized drugs (Brian Lawless/PA)
In a follow-up search in west Dublin, approximately 17kg of cocaine was seized along with 25,000 euro in cash.
The total estimated value of the drugs seized is more than 14 million euro.
Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary hailed the “significant seizure”.
“This particular seizure, we are satisfied that we have dismantled the whole supply network for cocaine into west Dublin and severely disrupted the activities of the organised crime gang behind that supply network,” he said.
“The drugs that were seized were packaged and ready to be mixed and repackaged and distributed throughout west Dublin. So it’s a significant seizure, and we have stopped these drugs getting into our communities.
“The organised crime gang behind this are very sophisticated, very organised, and their distribution method was very technical.
Eight vehicles along with drugs paraphernalia were also seized in the course of the operation.
Mr Cleary said that the drugs were hidden in concealed compartments, which involved the modification of the cars.
He added: “We seized eight vehicles with concealed compartments for hiding drugs and for transporting drugs. Our members in the DCR Team are trained in finding these hides within vehicles, and they’re able to locate them even though they were well disguised. It was very significant and as I said, it has significantly disrupted this organised crime gang.
Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary speaking to the media following the seizure of the drugs (Brian Lawless/PA)
“The premises where the cocaine was found was previously a motor garage, and the cars would have been modified there, and the modification would have been basically cutting into panels and then sealing them and disguising them again. But as I said, we have very well trained detectives who were able to locate and find these sites.
“It was a big operation and the set-up was sophisticated. They have their equipment for mixing and cooking and rebagging and sealing and stamping, then into the modified cars for distribution. So it’s the whole network, and we’re satisfied that we have taken out from importation to the mixing, bagging, distribution, the whole network, which was supplying into west Dublin communities.
“In addition to the cocaine, we also have four kilos of cannabis seized, and 25,000 euro cash seized.
“There are still other people that we will be looking for, and are determined we will return to continue to chase those behind the organised crime gangs.
“It will disrupt the supply of cocaine into west Dublin, which was the target market.
“There’s a whole other problem around the demand for these drugs. We will always target these people involved in the sale and supply, but there’s a wider societal issue there. Cocaine tends to transcend those socio-economic barriers.
“We will always say to people that, you might think that you’re buying cocaine for recreational use at the weekends, which you are directly financing organised crime, not only here in Dublin, but nationally and internationally.”
The drugs seized are now subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland.
The three men arrested on Tuesday remained in custody under drug trafficking legislation at garda stations in the Eastern Region on Wednesday morning.