Two men due in court in connection to seizure of guns and drugs in Laois and Kildare
A total of 11 military grade weapons were seized during a major operation in Laois and Kildare
Two men are due to appear in court on Tuesday morning, July 14 after Gardaí seized machine guns, pistols and drugs in Laois and Kildare over the weekend.
The seizures were part of a major operation which resulted in the seizure of €9 million in drugs and the arrest of 11 people in the past week.
As part of the ongoing investigations targeting organised criminal activity under Operation Tara, the operation targeted a number of individuals and locations in the Laois and Kildare areas over the weekend of July 10 to 12.
Two men in their 40s were arrested and charged in connection with the investigation. They were detained at stations in the Midlands under Section 50 of Criminal Justice 2007.
Both are expected to appear before a sitting of Athy District Court this Tuesday morning, July 14.
In a statement, An Garda Síochána said: “The operation involved personnel attached to the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), supported by personnel from the Garda Eastern Region, the Dublin Crime Response Team and the Emergency Response Unit.
“Searches were conducted at six locations in the Laois and Kildare areas which resulted in the seizure of 11 military grade firearms (3 machine guns and 8 pistols), ammunition and silencers as well as controlled drugs (heroin, cocaine and cannabis) with an estimated street value of more than €700,000.
“The firearms will be forwarded for technical examination by the Ballistics Section of the Garda Technical Bureau. The seized drugs will be forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis.”
Gardaí said investigations are ongoing.
Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis, Organised and Serious Crime, said: "This seizure represents a significant disruption of organised criminal activity and demonstrates An Garda Síochána's commitment to protecting communities from those involved in serious and organised crime.
"The recovery of military-grade firearms, handguns and substantial quantities of illicit drugs has removed highly dangerous weapons and harmful substances from circulation, reducing the threat posed to the public and preventing significant criminal profits from being generated.
"This operation highlights the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and the strong collaboration between An Garda Síochána and our national and international law enforcement partners. Organised crime groups operate across borders and exploit international supply chains, making cooperation and information sharing essential to our response.
"The targeting of firearms trafficking and drug trafficking remains a key priority under the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), and aligns closely with priorities being advanced during Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Today's results demonstrate the tangible impact that coordinated European and international action can have in disrupting the business models of organised crime groups.
"This seizure is the culmination of significant activity conducted under Operation Tara in the week commencing Monday, July 2026 involving the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, Customs Revenue Service, the Dublin Crime Response Team, Divisional Drug Units from Cork, Mayo, Longford, Roscommon and Kildare and supported by Emergency Response Unit, Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit, the Ballistics Section and Forensic Science Ireland.
"In summary, in the past week 11 persons have been arrested for various offences under organised crime, firearms and drug trafficking legislation in operations carried out by An Garda Síochána. Over €9 million worth of controlled drugs including, heroin, cocaine and cannabis has been seized along with cannabis oil infused vapes and jellies aimed at our young people.”