BREAKING: PHOTOS: Mobile drugs unit seized in Kildare

Gardaí have seized a mobile drugs unit for preparing and packaging drugs in Co Kildare along with almost €1.3m worth of various drugs.

The seizure is part of an intelligence-led operation targeting a west Dublin organised crime gang.

It is believed to be the first time a mobile drugs preparation unit has been discovered in Ireland.

Two men have been arrested and are being questioned in Dublin and Kildare.

The Dublin Crime Response Team backed up by armed national and regional units searched a large rural site in Co Kildare yesterday.

They discovered a mobile drugs mixing and preparation unit in the back of a large box lorry containing a hydraulic press, ovens, vacuum packing equipment and bagging.

 A total of 16kg of cocaine, estimated to be worth €1,120,000, along with 3kg of cannabis herb worth €60,000, and 800g of heroin, with an estimated value of €112,000, were seized along with 135kg of mixing agent.

The drugs are estimated to be worth €1,292,000).

A Garda statement said: 

On the 12th of June 2023, as part of Operation Tara and an the investigation into the sale and supply of controlled drugs in the West Dublin area, the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT) supported by National and Regional Resources conducted a search under warrant of a large rural site in County Kildare.
 
During the course of the search, Gardaí seized 16 kilogrammes of suspected cocaine, with an estimated street sale value of €1,120,000, 3 kilogrammes of cannabis herb, with an estimated value of €60,000, and 800 grammes of suspected heroin, with an estimated value of €112,000.
 
The total value of controlled drugs seized is approximately €1,292,000 (subject to analysis).
 
In addition to the drugs seized, a mobile drug pressing preparation unit (built into a large ‘box’ lorry) was also seized. This included a hydraulic press, ovens, vacuum packing equipment and bagging and approximately 135kg of mixing agent.
 
Two males aged in their 20s and 30s were arrested by Gardaí for an offence contrary to Section 15 Misuse of Drugs Act 1977/84.  They were conveyed to separate Garda Stations in West Dublin and Kildare, where they were currently detained under the provisions of Section 2 Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.
 
A number of follow-up searches have been conducted at addresses in Dublin and Kildare which resulted in further small quantities of drugs being located and seized.
 
Investigations are ongoing.