Gardai investigating serious organised criminal have made a number of major busts seizing over €500,000 in cash and finding €1.6 million worth of drugs in separate operations last night.
Over €500,000 was also found vacuum-packed in a follow-up search related to the arrest of the Dutch man. Some gold bars were also seized.
Both operations were carried out on Thursday while this morning another man who's suspected of being involved in serious crime "at international level" was arrested in Dundalk.
The man, 40, is being detained in Dundalk garda station.
The arrest in Tallaght came after gardai intercepted a car in Killinarden where they found cocaine and heroin.
The driver, a 24-year-old man, was taken to Tallaght Garda Station before follow up searches revealed the whopping haul of cocaine and heroin.
A garda spokesman said: "During the search of the vehicle investigating members seized a quantity of a substance believed to be cocaine and a quantity of another substance believed to be heroin (both pending analysis).
"The sole occupant of the car, a 24 year old male, was arrested on suspicion of possession of controlled drugs and is currently detained under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996, at Tallaght Garda Station.
"As a result of these seizures follow up searches were carried out at premises located in Ashbourne and Rathoath, Co. Meath.
"In the course of these searches, suspected cocaine and heroin (both pending analysis) with an estimated value of approximately €1.6 million was seized, along with other drug related paraphernalia."
The find in Meath came about around the same time the Dutch man was arrested separately in D4.
The 43-year-old had €200,000 in cash on him and a follow-up led to gardai finding a further pile vacuum-packed.
The total amount estimated to be over €500,000.
The spokesman said: "On Thursday, 30th January 2020, an intelligence led operation was undertaken by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), supported by a Special Crime Task Force, targeting persons suspected to be involved in serious and organised crime who operate at an international level.
"A male, a 43 year old Dutch national, was arrested in the Dublin 4 area having been discovered to be in possession of an estimated €200,000 in cash.
"The man was arrested on suspicion of commission of an offence contrary to the provisions of section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 and was conveyed to Irishtown Garda Station where he remains detained under the provisions Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
"Follow up searches were carried out by GNDOCB at a premises in the Dublin 4 area.
"In the course of this search an additional significant quantity of cash and a number of gold bars were seized.
"The precise amount of cash is yet to be established as some of it was vacuum packed and is subject of technical examination; however it is estimated to exceed €500,000."
Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll, head of Special Crime Operations (SCO), said: “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.
"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.”
