A WHOPPING €10.6 million of cocaine has been seized after a vehicle was pulled over on a busy Kilkenny motorway.
A total of 152 kilograms of cocaine valued at €10.6 million has been seized by Gardai.
The seizure took place on March 18 after a “heavy goods vehicle” was stopped along the M9 in Kilkenny shortly after 10am.
The car was pulled over following searches of two business premises and a residential address in Waterford.
After the “sophisticated vehicle concealment” was discovered, one man in his 60s was arrested.
He is being held under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 in relation to facilitating and enhancing drug distribution activities for an organised crime group and is currently detained, pursuant to the provisions of Section 50 of Criminal Justice Act, 2007, at a Garda Station in the Eastern Region.
The bust was carried out as part of Operation Tara as Gardai from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) and Waterford Drug and Crime Units continue to investigate.
They were also supported by Revenue Customs Service, the Garda Dog Unit and the Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit.
Following the operation, Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis, who is in charge of Organised & Serious Crime, said: “This is a further example of An Garda Síochána’s commitment to target the enablers and facilitators of organised crime.
“The recently published European Union Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (EU-SOCTA 2025) highlights that serious and organised crime undermines the very foundations of political, economic and social cohesion and stability through illicit proceeds, the perpetuation of violence and the extension of corruption.
“I thank the public for their support and encourage everybody to play their part. Report suspicious activity in confidence to the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111.”
Gardai also confirmed that the investigation into this incident is ongoing and further updates are set to follow.
Separately, the number of Dublin-based gardai trained in public order incidents has more than trebled since the 2023 riots.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan will update his Cabinet colleagues on the progress that gardai have made in improving public order policing in the capital since November 2023.
The number of Dublin-based gardai trained in public order incidents has risen from 200 in 2023 up to over 700.
During the riots, many public order gardai had to be called in from counties across the country to help tackle the mob.
The number of public order-trained gardai in the country now stands at 1,500.
He will also today brief his Cabinet colleagues on the contents of a review of public order policing in Ireland following concerns raised in the wake of the Dublin riots.
One man has been arrested[/caption]
