Cannabis herb and cash were seized in Cork city as part of Operation Tara.

€300,000 worth of drugs seized in city centre

More than €300,000 worth of suspected cannabis herb was seized yesterday on Leeside by gardaí in the city centre.

Shortly after 6pm yesterday, Thursday, gardaí attached to the Divisional Drugs Unit at Anglesea Street Garda Station stopped and search a male on Grattan Street. The male was found to be in possession of suspected cannabis herb with an approximate street value of €6,000.

The male, aged in his 30s, was arrested and taken to Bridewell Garda Station where he is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said: “A search was conducted at a residence in Sunday’s Well a short time later and an additional 15kg of suspected cannabis herb was located with an estimated value of €300,000. Cash to the value of €15,500 was also located.

“All items have been seized by investigating gardaí and the drugs will be subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland (FSI). Investigations are ongoing.”

This seizure forms part of Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, which was launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on 2 July 2021.

The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national, local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.