Man quizzed by gardaí after €1m drugs seizure

A LITHUANIAN fraudster (41) is being quizzed by gardaí over the seizure of three guns, almost €1m worth of drugs and close to €500,000 in cash.

It comes as the influence of eastern European crime gangs in Ireland grows.

The massive seizure was made on Tuesday morning when gardaí carried out a planned search operation at a business in Rathfeigh, Co Meath.

Much of the cash, drugs and guns haul was found concealed in secret compartments of vehicles at the location.

Last night, senior sources said the huge haul was controlled by a Lithuanian gang whose primary base is in west Dublin but which has been involved in an international drugs trafficking network.

The suspect, who was in custody at Ashbourne garda station last night, was already the subject of a joint investigation by Swords gardaí and the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) in relation to a bogus personal injury claim.

“This investigation will be the least of his worries now. The suspect faces a very lengthy jail sentence if convicted in relation to this week’s seizure,” a source said last night. The Lithuanian national is well known to gardaí and the court system and has been living in Swords for a number of years.

“He is associated with a number of very serious Lithuanian criminals who have been involved in all types of crime, including bogus insurance claims,” the source added. The gang is one of a number of eastern Europe-based groups which have expanded their networks here in recent years.

Gardaí yesterday announced details of the seizure, saying, “€958,800 of suspected drugs, €489,120 in cash and three firearms with ammunition” were seized.

Gardaí said: “During the course of the search, approximately €570,000 of suspected MDMA tablets, approximately €156,000 of suspected MDMA powder, approximately €140,800 of suspected cocaine, approximately €80,000 of suspected cannabis herb and approximately 6,000 suspected Xanax tablets with an estimated value of €12,000, were seized by gardaí.

“Cash to the value of €489,120 was also seized.

“Gardaí also recovered a Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun, two Walther 9mm handguns, two silencers, and 75 rounds of 9mm Luger and Fiocchi ammunition.”