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‘Drug hub’ run out of Kilkenny home by one of Ireland’s most feared crime gangs smashed after gardai seize coke and guns

‘His job was to keep under the radar’

• Published: 17:56, 5 Nov 2023
• Updated: 19:16, 5 Nov 2023

A ‘DRUG distribution hub’ was being run out of a home in Kilkenny by one of Ireland’s most feared crime gangs.

But the enterprise run by ‘The Family’ has now been smashed after investigators seized €2m worth of cocaine.

The crackdown, targeting mid-level dealers in Dublin and Meath as part of Operation Tara, started in Finglas on Friday evening when two cars were targeted.

After stopping the vehicles, officers arrested a 55-year-old man who is suspected of running the hub from his home and is said to have previously gone “under the radar”.

In a search of the suspect’s property, Gardai found €2m worth of cocaine, €20,000 of cannabis herb and €18,000 in cash.

Officers also discovered three Glock handguns, a replica handgun and a hydraulic drugs press as well as mixing agent, drug-mixing paraphernalia and several electronic devices.

Another man who was arrested is believed to be a dealer buying drugs.

A small quantity of drugs was also recovered from the cars, while two other men were also arrested as part of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau investigation.

Gardai suspect the 55-year-old, who has no previous association to criminality, was travelling to the capital to supply dealers with cocaine and cannabis.

One source said: “His job was to keep under the radar in Kilkenny, store drugs and then supply them to mid-level dealers in the capital and Co Meath.”

Detectives also believe the property in Kilkenny was deliberately chosen by the gang because it was outside the capital and wouldn’t have come to Garda attention.

Other officers involved in the searches included the Garda Dog Unit and Divisional Drug Units in Tallaght, Kilkenny and Ashbourne Garda stations.

Homes were also raided in Waterford, Tallaght and Asbourne with a quantity of drugs also discovered.

Senior officer in charge of organised crime investigations, Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly, yesterday said: “This significant intelligence-led operation conducted by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau, supported by colleagues from Dublin, Waterford, Meath and Kilkenny, demonstrates the inextricable link between illegal firearms and the drugs trade.

“We know that these type of deadly weapons are used by organised criminal groups to intimidate, maim and kill. Suppressing access to illegal firearms is an absolute priority for An Garda Síochána.”

Separately, on Friday evening, two men were arrested and approximately €30,000 of cocaine was seized after a “dangerous driving incident” in Co Louth.

When patrolling Gardai stopped a car and engaged in conversation with the two male occupants in the Ferdia Park area of Ardee at around 9:30pm, it accelerated away from the scene. 

The car smashed into the rear of an official Garda vehicle and caused “extensive” damage. 

During the high speed chase involving multiple units, cops observed a package being thrown from the vehicle in the Corbollis area on the N52. 

This package was later recovered and approximately €30,000 of suspected cocaine was seized by Garda. 

The containment operation ended on the N52 at Clonkeehan following an intervention by Gardaí to stop the offending vehicle, with no injuries reported.

Two men, aged in their 60s and 40s, were arrested by Gardai and they are both currently being detained at a Garda station in County Louth under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

The seized drugs will be taken to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis.