The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau has seized €627 million worth of drugs over the past decade, a significant blow to Ireland’s organised crime networks.Marking its 10th anniversary, the bureau has been at the forefront of major enforcement operations targeting drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearm possession.
Since its inception, the unit has also confiscated 171 firearms, 6,586 rounds of ammunition, and €33,284,931 in cash, with an additional €20,103,030 forfeited to the state.
Over 1,722 arrests have been made as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal operations. The bureau heads Operation Tara, a strategy aimed at dismantling drug networks ranging from international trafficking to local street-level sales.
Through intelligence-driven enforcement, officers have successfully intervened in life-threatening situations, thwarting criminal gang activities before they could escalate. Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis, who oversees organised and serious crime, highlighted Ireland’s position as having the fourth-highest demand for South American cocaine in Europe. She stressed that the demand for illegal drugs is directly linked to violent drug cartels operating in South America and international organised crime groups that smuggle and distribute these substances across Ireland and beyond.
Willis also warned that these criminal networks actively seek out vulnerable individuals, including those in the business sector, to exploit for their operations. As Irish authorities intensify efforts to combat drug-related crime, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau remains committed to disrupting and dismantling Ireland’s illicit drug trade.
9 March 2025
