On Monday, September 20th, Irish police seized over €1.3 million worth of cannabis in Dublin and Meath, resulting in two arrests. The seizure was made during a joint operation between An Garda Síochána (the Irish police force) and the Revenue. The operation was focused on disrupting the activities of a criminal gang believed to be heavily involved in the illicit drug trade in Ireland. According to reports from the Irish Times, approximately 68kg of cannabis was seized during the operation, with the value of the haul estimated at €1.36m.
Reports suggest that the drug seizure is one of the largest in Ireland this year and underlines the ongoing efforts of the Irish authorities to tackle the illicit drug trade. The operation is also believed to be part of a wider strategy aimed at curbing the activities of criminal gangs operating across the country. The Revenue’s Customs service will be leading the investigation, while the two suspects arrested are currently being held at different garda stations in Dublin.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Revenue said that the operation was carried out as part of ongoing efforts to target the activities of organised crime groups: “Revenue officers, as part of ongoing operations targeting organised crime groups, seized approximately 68kgs of herbal cannabis, with an estimated street value of €1.36m, in Dublin and Meath on 20/09/21. Two men were arrested and are currently detained under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at different Garda Stations in Dublin. Investigations are ongoing.”
The seizure follows another significant drug bust in Cork last week when gardaí seized €600,000 worth of drugs and arrested three people. This latest seizure takes the value of drugs confiscated by the Revenue this year to over €13 million. Drugs seizures have become more common in recent years, with authorities stepping up efforts to tackle organised crime groups involved in drug trafficking across the country.
In the wake of the latest seizure, many are calling for increased efforts to tackle the root causes of drug addiction and to support those struggling with addiction. There have been concerns raised about the impact of drug use on communities and families, with some advocating for a more holistic approach to tackling the issue.
Overall, the recent drug seizures highlight the ongoing challenges facing Irish authorities in tackling the illicit drug trade. Efforts are being made to disrupt the activities of criminal gangs and to seize drugs at points of entry, but many are calling for a wider focus on prevention and support for those impacted by drug addiction.
