Three of the seven men arrested reportedly tried to get away by swimming in the Liffey.
Over €2 million worth of drugs have been seized and seven men have been arrested following a number of operations targeting drug trafficking networks in Dublin.
Gardaí say that the intelligence-led operations were conducted across the capital on Wednesday and Thursday (22-23 June).
They also state that the operations were aimed at drug trafficking networks that are “operating at an international level”.
As part of the operations, Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) personnel – assisted by Dublin officers – searched a residential premises in Beaumont, Dublin 9, on Wednesday.
In the course of this search, Gardaí say a number of bottles of wine and champagne were located and seized and that, following technical examination, it is suspected the confiscated bottles contain cocaine in liquid form.
The cocaine seized is estimated to have a street value in excess of €150,000.
A man in his 20s was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drug trafficking and is currently detained pursuant to drug trafficking legislation at Ballymun Garda station.
Meanwhile, in another Wednesday operation, GNDOCB personnel – supported by a Special Crime Task Force – intercepted a vehicle travelling on the M50 motorway.
The investigation team also searched premises located in Palmerstown, Dublin 20 and the Dublin 2 area.
In the course of these searches, substances believed to include cannabis, cocaine and heroin were located and seized and are now the subject of forensic examination.
At this time, it is estimated that the street sale value of the drugs seized is in excess of €2 million.
This is as a substantial quantity of cash, the extent of which is to be established but is believed to be the proceeds of drug trafficking, was also discovered and confiscated.
On top of this, equipment used for the purpose of money counting and vacuum packing money and drugs, as well as communications devices and a substantial quantity of relevant documentation, were too located and seized.
Five male suspects, aged between their 20s and 40s, were arrested on suspicion of involvement in drug trafficking.
They are currently detained pursuant to drug trafficking-related legislation at various Garda Síochána stations in the capital.
Meanwhile, a sixth male suspect, 30s, was arrested on Thursday in a follow-up operation in the Dublin 2 area also on suspicion of drug trafficking.
He is currently detained pursuant to drug trafficking legislation at Donnybrook Garda Station.
RTÉ News reports that three of the seven men in custody were arrested after trying to get away by swimming in the River Liffey.
The outlet states that a garda swam after the three and two were detained, while the third was arrested on Thursday.
In a statement, Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll described the outcome of the operational activity as “very significant”.
“Large quantities of drugs have been seized, along with a significant quantity of money suspected to be proceeds of drug trafficking,” he added.
“Persons believed to operate at a significant level within the world of organised crime have been identified and arrested.
“A drug trafficking route has been identified and disrupted and a new method of concealing controlled substances has been identified and exposed.”
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