Illegal signs worth almost EUR 2 million were removed from the streets

Gardaí seized illegal tablets worth approximately €1.976 million.

As part of Operation Citizen, the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT), together with other DMR regional units, carried out a planned operation targeting a major supply line for illegal tablets into Dublin city centre.

The first part of this operation on Friday involved the stop and search of a car in the south Dublin area. More than 10,000 zopiclone and alprazolam tablets (worth €20,000) were recovered from the vehicle.

A number of planned searches were then carried out across the Dublin metropolitan region.

A search of the company’s premises in south Dublin found approximately 965,000 Zopiclone and Alprazolam tablets (subject to analysis) worth approximately €1.93 million.

During a further search of the premises in Dublin city center, more than 13,000 Zopiclone and Alprazolam tablets worth more than €26,000 were found.

During two further searches at DMR West and South, approximately €4,500 in cash and evidence relating to drug dealing at DMR was recovered.

The total value of the recovered drugs is EUR 1,976,000.

Two men, aged 50 and 30, have been arrested and are currently being held at separate police stations in the city under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

A man in his 30s has been charged and is due to appear before the evening sitting of Court 1 of Dublin Criminal Court, which will take place this evening, Saturday 12 October 2024.

Commenting on the drug seizure and the impact that the sale of illicit pills is having on the city centre, Chief Superintendent Patrick McMenamin said.

“This significant seizure of illicit drugs by the Dublin Crime Response Team took place as part of an ongoing investigation to tackle the street selling and supply of drugs in Dublin city center and as part of Operation Citizen. This investigation disrupted a major drug supply line to the city center and demonstrates An Garda Síochána’s commitment to keeping people safe and disrupting the criminal activities of those who cause harm and distress in our communities.”