Pubdate: Mon, 13 Apr 1998
Source: Irish Times (Ireland)
Contact:  ++ 353 1 671 9407
Author: Elaine Keogh and Joe Humpreys

MAN ARRESTED AFTER GARDAI FIND DRUGS WORTH #4M IN CAR

A man was arrested by gardai who found drugs worth more than #4 million in
his car when he was stopped at a routine Bank Holiday weekend checkpoint on
Saturday night. There were 230,000 ecstasy tablets which it's believed were
destined for distribution in Dublin. Gardai also recovered 103kg of
cannabis resin.

The 37-year-old man, who is unemployed, is being detained under the Drug
Trafficking Act at Drogheda Garda station. The Director of Public
Prosecutions will decide later today whether he will appear before a
special court sitting or be released without charge pending the preparation
of a file.

The checkpoint was in operation as part of extra measures put in place
every Bank Holiday weekend to reduce accidents. The driver of the car was
stopped around 9.30 p.m. just north of Delvin Bridge on the Balbriggan/East
Meath border. Gardai asked him if he had his driving licence or any
documents on him.

"It was the driver's demeanour that lead to the search of the car and the
discovery of a quantity of drugs on the back seat and in the boot," said
Garda Supt Fergus Doggitt. It is understood that an Operation Lifesaver
garda spotted a number of hold-alls in the back seat and asked the driver
to open the boot where they found a box containing vacuum-packed slabs of
cannabis resin.

The driver was immediately arrested under the Misuse of Drugs Act and Drug
Trafficking Act and brought to Drogheda Garda station. He is not known to
gardai for any involvement in drugs and claims he was on his way from
Dublin to his home in Carlingford, Co Louth when stopped. He was driving
his own car, a 1990 Louth-registered white Renault 19.

The car and the drugs were being examined by gardai from the Technical
Bureau and members of the National Drugs unit yesterday. It is suspected
that the drugs were destined for Dublin.

Last weekend gardai from the National Drugs Unit seized cannabis resin
worth approximately #2 million near Ashbourne, Co Meath. It was destined
for distribution in the North Dublin City area. Three Dublin men were
arrested and appeared before Dunshaughlin District Court charged with
possession of the drug for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying it
to others.

Saturday's haul follows a number of recent successes by the Garda National
Drugs Bureau and local drugs units.

More than #3 million worth of ecstasy and more than #10 million worth of
cannabis and cannabis resin have been discovered so far this year. In 1996,
the Garda seized only about #19 m worth of cannabis.

Among the major recent hauls were:

* April 5th: Three people were arrested after at least #2 million worth of
cannabis resin was seized in Ashbourne, Co Meath. Three men were later
charged with possession with intention to supply.

* February 27th: About #350,000 worth of ecstasy tablets were discovered by
gardai using sniffer dogs in a wooded area in Kilmurray outside Cork.

* February 20th: Some #5.3 million worth of amphetamine and cocaine was
seized after a brief car chase near Celbridge, Co Kildare. The haul was a
result of an investigation co-ordinated by officers of the Garda National
Drugs Bureau.

* February 6th: 40,000 ecstasy tablets were seized in Donaghmede, Dublin
along with a small quantity of heroin and cocaine. The full haul had an
estimated street value of #400,000.

* January 31st: #4.2 million worth of cannabis resin was seized at
Kilcoran, near Cahir, Co Tipperary.