Gardaí targeting organised crime seize cash, gold bars and drugs worth €1.6m

Gardaí targeting organised crime have seized drugs worth €1.6m, gold bars and hundreds of thousands of Euro in separate operations.

The drugs were uncovered after members of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) stopped a vehicle in the Kilinarden area of Tallaght in Dublin yesterday.

During searches of the vehicle, investigators found what they believe to be cocaine and heroin.

A 24-year-old man was arrested and taken to Tallaght Garda Station.

During follow-up searches in Ashbourne and Ratoath, gardai found what they believe to be cocaine and heroin worth around €1.6m.

Separately, GNDOCB officers targeting international organised crime arrested a 43-year-old Dutch man in Dublin 4.

He was found to be carrying €200,000 in cash and was arrested on suspicion of offences under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act.

During follow-up searches in Dublin 4, Gardaí found several gold bars and over €500,000 in cash in vacuum-packed bags.

The man was taken to Irishtown Garda Station and has since been charged. He is due in court his evening at 4:30 pm.

This morning meanwhile, GNDOCB officers targeting international organised crime arrested a 40-year-old man in Dundalk on suspicion of breaching the Passport Act.

The head of Garda Special Crime Operations, Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll said the bureau has had significant success tackling organised crime this month.

“The operational activity undertaken by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau, in the first month of 2020, has resulted in the seizure of ten firearms accompanied by 2,000 rounds of ammunition; over €600,000 in cash and drugs to an estimated value of €1.6 million,” he said.

“The results to date in 2020, represents significant success achieved in tackling organised crime and another step in pursuing our ambition to dismantle those organised crime groups that are causing harm within our communities.”