Cocaine worth €8.1 million seized and man (30s) arrested in Co Laois

Ellen O'Donoghue

Cocaine worth €8.1 million has been seized and a man in his 30s has been arrested in Co Laois.

Personnel attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau conducted a search operation at a residential operation and lands in the Laois area on Tuesday, October 28th.

During the course of the search, 116kg of suspected cocaine, subject to analysis, valued at around €8.1 million, was seized along with a number of electronic devices.

A man was arrested pursuant to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 and is currently detained pursuant to the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Laois garda station.

The drugs seized will be forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.

Following the operation, Detective Chief Superintendent Seamus Boland, Head of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, said that An Garda Síochána will continue to focus its resources on those who collaborate with and facilitate organised crime.

"We are determined to continue dismantling drug trafficking routes into Ireland and will continue doing our part to keep our communities safer. Please think before you use," he said.

Investigations are ongoing, a garda statement said.