Man arrested after large quantity of drugs seized during searches in the Midlands

A man and a woman were arrested after gardai seized a large quantity of drugs during a series of searches in the Midlands.

Gardaí seized approximately €230,000 of suspected heroin and cocaine during a number of searches in Portlaoise, Co. Laois on Wednesday and Thursday.

The searches were conducted as part of Operation Tara by the Laois Drugs Unit.

On Wednesday, May 3, a male in his 30s was stopped and searched on Mountmellick Road and was found in possession of €3,920 worth of heroin. He was arrested and detained under the provisions of Section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984.

On the same day, a search of a residence in Portlaoise led to the discovery and seizure of €15,680 heroin and €880 cocaine. An adult female, aged in her late teens, has since been arrested and detained at a Garda station in the Midlands under the provisions of Section 2 Drug Trafficking Act, 1996.

On Thursday, follow-up searches were conducted, aided by the Garda Dog Unit, at two further residences in Portlaoise where approximately 1.5kg of suspected heroin, to a value of €210,000, was seized.

The drugs seized totalling €230,000 heroin and €880 cocaine will now be sent to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis.

The arrested male has since been charged and he appeared before Portlaoise District Court on Thursday. The arrested female has since been charged and is due to appear before Nenagh District Court this afternoon, Friday, May 5.