Over €14 million worth of drugs has been seized in the Limerick area over the past 12 months by Gardaí as part of ongoing efforts under Operation Tara.
Most recently, on March 12, Gardaí from Nenagh Garda Station arrested a man in his 30s following a search of a van on the M7 motorway near Birdhill.
Officers recovered suspected cannabis with an estimated value of €280,000, concealed inside 32 boxes labelled “chamomile tea” along with €20,000 in cash and a small quantity of cocaine.
Just a week earlier, on March 5, Gardaí seized €100,000 worth of cannabis herb during a vehicle search in Limerick. A man in his 20s was arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.
February saw multiple seizures. On February 14, officers from the Divisional Drugs Unit conducted an intelligence-led search of a residence in Limerick city, uncovering more than €100,000 worth of suspected cannabis herb. A man in his 50s was arrested and later charged.
A separate operation on February 25 saw Gardaí stop a vehicle in the city, uncovering suspected cocaine valued at €70,000. The driver, Jamie Long (26), was also found in possession of a key to a second Ford Transit van parked outside his home.
A search warrant was obtained for the van, where officers discovered a further 11kg of cocaine and 35kg of cannabis, valued at €770,000 and €700,000 respectively, bringing the total value of the seizure to €1.54 million.
Long was charged in connection with possession of the drugs and appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District Court on February 28, where bail was refused. Detective Garda Anthony Harnett told the court that Long is an “integral part” of an organised crime group supplying drugs across Limerick and beyond, and is likely to continue such activity if released.
Despite its scale, the operation was overshadowed by the largest single seizure in the region, which took place in May 2025. Gardaí, supported by the Revenue Commissioners and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, recovered over €10 million worth of cannabis during an operation at a residential property in County Clare.
Two men in their 60s were arrested. One was later charged, while the other was released pending a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Across Limerick city and county, the Divisional Drugs Unit carried out a series of significant seizures throughout 2025.
In February, cocaine valued at €204,000 was recovered near Croom, with a man in his 50s charged and brought before Limerick District Court.
Later that month, Gardaí seized €10,000 worth of cannabis and €6,925 in cash following searches at seven domestic residences in Castleconnell. A man in his 20s was charged, while a juvenile was referred to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme.
In March, a search of a residence in Limerick city, assisted by the Armed Support Unit, led to the discovery of €105,000 worth of cocaine.
Gardaí seized €500,000 worth of drugs, along with firearms, ammunition and cash in May, after stopping a vehicle in the Galvone area and carrying out a follow-up search at a nearby property. Three men were arrested and later charged.
Further seizures followed, including €140,000 worth of cocaine found at a residence in the Englishtown area, and €493,920 of cocaine discovered in a van stopped in Hospital, County Limerick in November. A follow-up search at a residence in Castletroy also led to further cash and cannabis seizures.
In late November of 2025, Gardaí recovered €110,000 worth of cannabis in Dooradoyle and €125,000 worth of cannabis in separate city operations, with arrests made in both cases.
The success of Operation Tara continued into 2026, with Gardaí seizing over €310,000 worth of drugs during coordinated searches in Bruree, County Limerick, and Charleville, County Cork. The raids in January led to the discovery of cannabis, cocaine, Xanax tablets and amphetamines. One man has since been charged, while a woman was released pending a file for the DPP.
These seizures form part of ongoing efforts to target organised drug trafficking networks across Ireland. Launched in July 2021 by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, Operation Tara aims to disrupt and dismantle such networks at local, national, and international levels.
Gardaí have confirmed that all seized drugs are being sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis, with investigations ongoing.