Drugssting
September 2008
ONE of the largest drug hauls ever found in Wicklow was uncovered over the weekend as a Garda sting seized quantities of cocaine and heroin worth over €2 million at a scenic Blessington location.
A 24 year-old male was arrested after Saturday’s sting.
A handgun and a large amount of ammunition were also found in an open area on the outskirts of Russeltown, in Blessington.
The planned operation involved garda members from Blessington station and others from the Baltinglass district, assisted by the Garda National Drug Unit.
They descended on the picturesque area popular with walkers and anglers at 4.30 p.m. on Saturday, finding bags of heroin and cocaine in the process. The remote location of the site is believed to have suited as a drugs collection point.
The male arrested was detained at Naas Garda Station under Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act, 1996.
The drugs were brought back to the district headquarters at Baltinglass before being sent on to Dublin for forensic analysis.
It’s by far the largest amount of drugs found in the west of the county. Previously in 2005 over €400,000 worth of cannabis was found under Ballyward Bridge less than a mile from Manor Kilbride after an angler ended up hooking a surprise catch of five kilos. at high speed.
The chase continued to Annamoe and back to Ashford. A Garda checkpoint was set up at Annagowlan near the Devil’s Glen in Ashford.
The stolen car rammed the Garda cars, forcing its way past and causing minor damage.
The driver then turned back towards Ballyduff Cross where he abandoned the car and took to the fields.
Six Gardai gave chase but were unable to catch the suspect. Their investigation is continuing and they are now following a definite line of enquiry.
Four patrol cars were involved in the chase and Gardaí from Operation Baseline, the unit set up to combat crime in rural areas, also came to their assistance. A spokesperson for the Gardaí in Wicklow said that it was lucky that a second tragedy was avoided in Roundwood, less than a week after a man was killed when he was struck by a car while he was crossing Main Street.