The Daily Star Ireland
Major Cocaine Seizure in Kilkenny: Businessman with Alleged IRA Links Arrested
In a significant operation, Gardaí intercepted a lorry on the M9 motorway in Kilkenny, uncovering 152 kilograms of cocaine concealed within a refrigerated unit. The haul, valued at €10.6 million, led to the arrest of a 61-year-old businessman with alleged connections to cross-border smuggling and the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
The detained individual is well-known to both Gardaí and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). He has been under surveillance by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) for his suspected involvement in organized crime and drug trafficking. Authorities believe he has associations with Dublin-based and South American drug syndicates. Notably, he has been linked to the west Dublin gang known as ‘The Family’, a group previously targeted by law enforcement for drug distribution activities.
The operation commenced with searches at two business premises and a residential address in Waterford. Following these searches, the suspect’s lorry was stopped on the M9, where the concealed drugs were discovered. The arrest was made under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, pertaining to facilitating drug trafficking for an organized crime group. The suspect can be detained for up to a week for questioning.
Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis of the Organised and Serious Crime unit emphasized the commitment to targeting enablers and facilitators of organized crime. She urged the public to report any suspicious activity confidentially to the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111.
