Cocaine seized in two operations

Gardaí have confirmed that as part of Operation Tara, €157,500 worth of cocaine was seized following two operations on Monday.

At approximately 6.45pm, gardaí stopped and conducted a search of a car on the Inniscarra Road, Ballincolling. During the course of the search, €35,000 of cocaine was located in the vehicle.

A man in his 20s was arrested as a result and was detained under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Gurranabraher Garda Station.

At approximately 9pm, in a separate operation, gardaí conducted a search at a residential property in Highfield Park, Ballincolling.

During this search, €122,500 worth of cocaine was discovered. A man in his 20s was arrested as a result and was detained under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Bridewell Garda station.

The two men arrested has since appeared before the courts.

This seizure forms part of Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, which was launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on 2 July 2021.

The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels including international, national, local, involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs, a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said.