A major garda operation linked to a €210,000 heroin seizure in Cork has led to the arrest of a man and the seizure of heroin, crack cocaine, weapons and cash in Mahon.
Some 55 gardaí, including members of the Armed Support Unit (ASU), carried out searches in an area near the shopping centre today as part of the intelligence-led investigation targeting criminal activity in the Blackrock area.
Suspected stolen caravans, e-scooters and e-scramblers were also seized, while approximately 20 animals were removed from the site over animal welfare concerns.
The quantity of cash seized was less than €10,000, while the suspected heroin and crack cocaine had an estimated combined street value of €2,000.
Weapons seized included slash hooks and other implements, but no guns were recovered.
Approximately 20 animals were also seized over animal welfare concerns.
Two vehicles carrying ponies and horses were removed from the site by animal welfare officers.
The Mahon operation was part of the same intelligence-led investigation that resulted in the seizure of €210,000 worth of suspected heroin in Blackrock yesterday morning.
On Tuesday, gardaí seized approximately 1.5kg of suspected heroin, with an estimated street value of €210,000, from a house in Blackrock on Cork city’s southside.
The heroin was destined for the Cork market, gardaí believe.
The operation was led by the Cork City Divisional Drug Unit and assisted by the Southern Regional Drugs Unit and the ASU in Cork city.
A woman aged in her 40s, who is known to gardaí, was arrested.
A man in his 60s, who is also known to gardaí, was stopped in a vehicle nearby and arrested.
A search of a premises was subsequently conducted under warrant. During the search, approximately €13,000 in cash was recovered, along with a further €1,950. Drug paraphernalia was also seized.
The suspected heroin will be examined by Forensic Science Ireland.
The man and woman remain detained at garda stations in Cork city under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
Gardaí said the investigation is focused on tackling suppliers of heroin and other drugs in Cork city, rather than youths and other vulnerable people who are coerced into holding and distributing drugs for larger suppliers.
Gardaí believe the removal of the €210,000 heroin shipment from circulation will have a significant impact on heroin supply in the city.
While heroin use among younger age cohorts has been falling in Cork in recent years, crack cocaine use has been increasing, raising concerns about the drug and its impact on the city.