Drugs worth €3m, gun and ammunition seized in Kildare

Operation targeting organised crime finds stash believed to be linked to Kinahan gang

Gardaí at the scene of a raid  in Sallins Bridge in Co Kildare. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Gardaí at the scene of a raid in Sallins Bridge in Co Kildare. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Gardaí seized an estimated €3 million worth of suspected cocaine and heroin along with an assault rifle during an overnight raid in Sallins, county Kildare.

The suspected drugs and firearm along with associated ammunition were discovered at a house in Sallins late on Saturday night as part of an operation targeting organised criminal activity undertaken by the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

Gardaí confirmed no arrests were made. Reports have linked the items to the Kinahan crime cartel.

Gardaí at the scene of a raid  in Sallins Bridge in Co Kildare. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Gardaí at the scene of a raid in Sallins Bridge in Co Kildare. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The discovery comes at the end of a successful week for gardaí, who also uncovered 15 firearms, some of which were loaded, at a warehouse in the Greenogue Industrial Estate in Rathcoole on Tuesday.

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Three men believed to be associates of the Kinahan gang were arrested during the operation, following which gardaí arrested a senior gangland figure, also in Kildare, on Wednesday and recovered €300,000 in cash believed to be the proceeds of crime.

Gardaí believe this individual was central to taking receipt of multi-million euro consignments of drugs the Kinahan gang has been importing into the Republic. It is not known if today’s find is a direct follow-on from his arrest.