Two men arrested after almost €2 million of illegal tablets seized in Dublin

Michael Bolton

Two men have been arrested after €1.976 million of illegal tablets were seized following searches in Dublin on Friday.

The first part of this operation involved the stop and search of a car in the South Dublin area.

Over 10,000 Zopiclone and Alprazolam tablets (valued at €20,000) were recovered from the vehicle.

A number of planned searches were then carried out across the Dublin Metropolitan Region.

A search of a business premises in South Dublin recovered approximately 965,000 Zopiclone and Alprazolam tablets valued at approximately €1.93 million.

A further search of a premises in Dublin City Centre recovered over 13,000 Zopiclone and Alprazolam tablets valued at over €26,000.

Two further searches in DMR West and South recovered approximately €4,500 cash and evidence relating to the trafficking of drugs across the DMR.

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

Two men, aged in their 50s and 30s, have been arrested and are currently being held at separate Garda Stations in Dublin.

The man in his 30s has been charged and is due to appear before the evening sitting of Court 1, Criminal Court of Justice Dublin, on Saturday evening.

Commenting on the drug seizure and the impact the sale of illegal tablets have on the City Centre, Chief Superintendent Patrick McMenamin stated.

"This significant seizure of illicit drugs by the Dublin Crime Response Team was made as part of ongoing investigations to tackle street level sale and supply of drugs in Dublin City centre, and was made as part of Operation Citizen.

"This investigation has disrupted a major supply line of drugs into the City Centre, and demonstrates An Garda Síochána’s commitment to keeping people safe and disrupting the criminal activities of those who cause harm and inflict misery in our communities.”