€8.4m worth of cocaine has been seized in Westmeath.
It's after Gardaí stopped two vehicles in the Lough Owel area shortly after 6pm yesterday.
Follow up searches were carried out at properties in Naas and Waterford, and an aircraft in Longford has been seized.
It's understood the drugs were flown in on the private plane at an airfield in Longford.
Two men, age 54 and 40, were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking contrary and are currently detained at Ashbourne Garda Station.
"Significant Harm"
Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly, the Head of Organised and Serious Crime says: "This operation has prevented a considerable quantity of dangerous drugs from making it onto our streets and causing significant harm to our communities.
"An Garda Síochána is committed, under Operation Tara, to disrupting and dismantling the organised criminal networks who profit from drug trafficking and impact so negatively on our society."
Yesterday, Gardaí attached to the National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau supported by other national units made two arrests and seized 120 kilogrammes of Cocaine (an estimated value of €8.4 million) and a light aircraft as a part of ongoing Operation Tara efforts. pic.twitter.com/a3pzj40jf3
— Garda Info (@gardainfo) August 5, 2022
A garda spokesperson says: "On Thursday 4th August 2022, as a result of ongoing investigations targeting drug related organised crime activity under Operation Tara, personnel attached to the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau supported by other national units, intercepted two vehicles, shortly after 6pm, at 2 locations in the Lough Owel area of Co. Westmeath."In the course of this operation, 120 kilogrammes of cocaine with an estimated street value of €8.4 million (subject to analysis) was recovered along with several communications devices. Follow up searches were conducted at residential premises in Naas, Co Kildare and Waterford City, and at a commercial airfield in Co. Longford where a light aircraft has been seized."Two males, age 54 and 40 years, were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking contrary to section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and are currently detained, pursuant to the provisions of section 2 of Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at Ashbourne Garda Station, Dublin.
"Investigations are ongoing."
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