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A woman in her thirties, arrested in connection with a drugs seizure in Cork and Limerick worth an estimated €31,600, has been released without charge, while a man in his forties remains in garda custody.
The arrests were made on Friday evening by members of the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit, following searches of residences in Bruree, Co Limerick and Charleville, Co Cork.
Quantities of cocaine, cannabis, benzodiazapine, and amphetamines, with an estimated value in excess of €310,600, were seized by gardaí.
The man and woman were held in a Co Limerick garda station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996, but the woman was released on Sunday, with gardaí saying a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The man continues to be held in garda custody.
Earlier:
A woman in her thirties and a man in his forties have been arrested following seizures of drugs estimated to be worth more than €310,600 in Co Cork and Co Limerick.
The arrests, by members of the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit, occurred on Friday evening following searches of residences in Bruree, Co Limerick and Charleville, Co Cork.
The searches were carried out as part of an ongoing series of investigations into the sale and supply of drugs in the region.
The seized drugs, which are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland, have been estimated to worth in excess of €310,600.
Gardaí carried out an initial search of a residence in Bruree, Co Limerick and seized cannabis with an estimated value of €198,000, cocaine thought to be worth €10,500, Xanax tablets valued at €79,252, and amphetamines said to be worth €4,350.
Xanax is a brand name for the prescription medication alprazolam, which is a benzodiazepine, a tranquiliser primarily used for the short-term treatment of severe anxiety and panic disorders.
Across the county border, a follow-up search of a residence in Charleville led to the seizure of cocaine estimated to be worth €17,500, and cannabis valued at €1000, as well as weighing scales and drugs paraphernalia.
A woman aged in her thirties and a man aged in his forties were arrested and are currently being held under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Co Limerick garda station.
A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said investigations are ongoing.
Those investigations are being carried out under the remit of Operation Tara, An Garda Síochána’s enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, which came into force in July 2021, and which has a strong focus on tackling street-level dealing in cities, towns and villages across the country.
Members of the public with information on drug importation and supply can report the information to the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.