Gardaí raid major Laois drug factory seizing big haul of e tablets and cannabis

Laois Gardaí have uncovered a suspected drug-making operation in the Rathdowney area as part of an intelligence-led operation.

Gardaí are understood to have been deployed to a premises in a rural location on Wednesday, April 24 not far from the Kilkenny border. 

On arrival at the scene gardaí are understood to have been taken aback by the scale of the manufacturing process underway. 

The Garda press office said the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau seized €200,000 cash and a substantial amount of controlled drugs following searches in Laois. 

SEE pictures of drug haul HERE.

Gardai say more than €200,000, €140,000 suspected cannabis, €10,000 suspected MDMA tablets and a substantial amount of counterfeit prescription tablets were seized. A sophisticated illicit pill making facility, including a pill press, was also seized.
 
Garda HQ say all items of evidential value recovered will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for further examination.
 
A man, aged in his 50s, and a woman, aged in her 40s, have been arrested. Both were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 at a Garda Station in Laois.

The man was later charged and appeared before a special sitting of Portlaoise District Court on Friday April 26.

The woman arrested has was released from custody without charge.

A file will now be prepared for the DPP.

Gardai said the the Laois operation formed part of an operation on April 23 in Co Meath which resulted in the recovery of €2.4 million of cannabis by Revenue Customs Officers. 

The two men (50s) arrested in connection with the €2.4 million cannabis seizure were taken to a Garda Station in Co. Meath. They were subsequently charged. They were due to appear before Navan District Court on Friday, 26.