Crime gang members flung packages from a van in a garda pursuit leading gardai to a massive haul of drugs.
Gardai spotted a suspicious van in Ballinure, Co Tipperary, near Thurles, as they tried to stop the van it sped away.
They pursued the van and two packages were flung from the vehicle into a field. The gardai continued to track the van and it stopped a short distance away.
Gardai moved in and arrested two men on board - a search of the field found the two packages of ecstasy tablets worth €150,000.
They then carried out searches at two other locations and found cannabis herb worth more than €400,000.
A garda spokesman said: "Gardaí in Killenaule, Co Tipperary are investigating the seizure of drugs and cash following an operation yesterday, Monday 20 May 2019.
"Gardaí were on patrol in Ballinure, Co Tipperary at approximately 3.45pm yesterday afternoon, Monday May 20 2019 when they attempted to stop a van, the van failed to stop and two packages were observed being thrown from the vehicle into a field.
"The van stopped a short distance away and Gardaí arrested two males (45yrs & 22yrs) in connection with this investigation.
"The two packages were retrieved and contained ecstasy tablets (subject to analysis) with an estimated street value of €150,000.
"Following on from investigations a number of searches were conducted at residential premises in the Cashel and Killenaule areas and during the course of these searches, Cannabis Herb (subject to analysis) with an estimated street value of €400,000 and €21,000 in cash were recovered.
"Both men are currently detained at Thurles Garda Station under the provisions of Section 2 – Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking Act) 1996."
A second seizure happened in Carlow when gardai searched a house and recovered cannabis herb worth €125,000.
A man has been arrested and is being questioned in Carlow Garda Station.A spokesman said: "As part of an operation by Gardaí attached to the Carlow Detective Unit with assistance from the Garda Dog Unit, a premises at Phelim Wood, Tullow, Co Carlow was searched on Friday May 17 2019.
"During the course of the search a total of six and quarter kilograms of cannabis herb was recovered with an estimated street value of €125,000.
"A 44-year-old man was arrested at the scene and detained at Carlow Garda Station under the provisions of Section 2 – Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking Act) 1996 in relation to this investigation."
