Man arrested after €8m cocaine seizure

A display of suspected cocaine packets seized earlier in County Laois.  The drugs are stacked in small bundles, mostly wrapped in clear plastic but some are covered in sticky tape.  The are placed in front of a navy and yellow sign which says: "Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau"Image source, An Garda Síochána (Irish police)
Image caption,

The seized drugs were put on display by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau

  • Published

Suspected cocaine worth more than €8m (£7m) has been seized by detectives in County Laois in the Republic of Ireland.

It follows a search at a residential address and land in the area earlier on Tuesday by members of the Garda (Irish police) National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

They arrested one man in his 30s and recovered approximately 116kg of suspected cocaine during the raid.

Irish broadcaster RTÉ said the operation targeted an organised crime gang based in west Dublin.

A number of electronic devices were also seized by officers during the raid.

The head of the bureau, Det Ch Supt Seamus Boland, said: "We are determined to continue dismantling drug trafficking routes into Ireland."

He said officers "will continue doing our part to keep our communities safer" and he urged the public to "think before you use" illegal substances.