A man is due to appear in court later this evening charged in connection with a drugs seizure in Galway. €165,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis was seized following searches in Galway and Westmeath on Wednesday. Gardaí stopped a van on the Old Ballybane Road in Galway city at around 7 o'clock on Wednesday evening. This was part of a joint operation between Galway and Westmeath Drugs Units.
Gardaí conducted a search of the vehicle and discovered approximately €35,000 worth of cocaine. The driver, a man his 40s, was arrested and detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. He's since been charged and is due to appear before a special sitting of Galway District Court this evening. Simultaneously, a search warrant was executed at a residence in Athlone, Co. Westmeath resulting in the seizure of approximately €80,000 cannabis herb, €11,400 cannabis resin and a further €40,000 worth of cocaine.
A hydraulic press and other drug paraphernalia was also seized. The drugs seized will be forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland for full analysis. Investigations are ongoing.
