Huge drugs seizure a success for cross border task force

THE discovery of cannabis with estimated street value of €3.2 million hidden in a lorry load of vegetables at Ballymascanlon last Tuesday has been described as ‘a very significant seizure’ by Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll of Special Crime Operations.

Two men, aged 57 and 42 years from the UK and Northern Ireland, who were arrested were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking and detained at Dundalk Garda Station have since been released and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

THE seizure was made when Gardaí attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) intercepted a commercial haulage vehicle in Ballymascanlon, last Tuesday morning.

Following a search of the vehicle cannabis herb with an was recovered with estimated street value of €3.2 million hidden. The cannabis herb was concealed within a legitimate load of fresh vegetables.

The operation was part of ongoing joint investigations being conducted by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) and the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the UK under the auspices of the Cross Border Joint Agency Task Force (CBJATF) targeting cross border organised criminal activity.

Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll said the seizure was ‘yet another success arising from ongoing cooperation between the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau and the UK’s National Crime Agency as we jointly protect our communities from drug trafficking’

Sinn Féin Cllr Ruairí Ó Murchú has commended the National Drugs and Organised Crime Unit on this evening’s arrest of two men and seizure of cannabis worth over €3 million.

CCllr Ó Murchú, who is Chairperson of Louth Drug and Alcohol Forum, said ‘ This is a seizure of a huge volume of illicit drugs which would have made their way into the local supply chain.

“The removal of these drugs and the arrest of two individuals is extremely welcome news and represents a highly successful operation by An Garda Síochána.

He noted that Dundalk Gardaí seized €5,000 and made one arrest in Muirhevnamor on Sunday October 27.