Gardaí arrest three over cocaine seizure
Three people were arrested after cocaine worth €500,000 was seized in north Dublin as part of an international drugs probe, gardaí confirmed tonight.
The find, thought to be around 7kgs, was made in Drumcondra and comes amid growing controversy over the country’s escalating cocaine culture.
The drug has been linked to a number of recent deaths – including top model Katy French whose funeral took place on Monday.
Garda spokesman Superintendent Kevin O’Donohoe said the seizure was part of an ongoing operation involving the Garda National Drugs Unit, Customs officials and international law enforcement agencies.
“Other aspects of this operation are ongoing and no further details are being released at this time,” he said.
During the first part of the operation a 67-year-old man and 47-year-old woman were arrested and detained at Santry Garda Station under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act.
A 22-year-old woman was later arrested in Rathgar in the south of the city.
She is being held at Ballymun Garda Station also under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act.
The country’s cocaine problem has hit the headlines in recent weeks following a number of deaths.
Waterford man Kevin Doyle, 21, died just over a week ago – a fortnight after taking damp cocaine at a house party.
His friend, 23-year-old John Grey, who attended the same party, died on Saturday.
Socialite Ms French died last Thursday, four days after collapsing at a friend’s house.
Her funeral took place on Monday in Co Wicklow.
Amid widespread reports that the illness was drug-related, the exact cause was not confirmed by family or friends, who maintained a media silence.
Senior detectives from the garda’s drug and serious crime units are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.
The model recently revealed she had used cocaine, branding it part of the Dublin social scene, but quit the drug warning others of its dangers.
