One man was arrested today after detectives seized cocaine with an estimated street value of €3.5 million hidden in undergrowth beside a halting site in Drogheda, Co Louth.
A Webley revolver and ammunition were also recovered in the search of seven caravans and surrounding ground near a factory off Cement Road.
In a major planned operation, both local and national Garda drugs units moved on to the halting site at about 7.00am.
The discovery of weighing scales in one caravan led them to a field opposite, beside the Premier Periclase magnesia-making plant.
Sniffer dogs and metal detectors helped uncover two drums packed with cocaine hidden in undergrowth.
The drugs have been sent to the Garda Technical Bureau for forensic analysis.
One man, aged 25, was arrested at the scene and taken to Drogheda Garda station where he is being held under Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act.
Customs officials also seized a Volkswagen Passat car at the site which was unregistered.
The drugs units was backed up by the Criminal Assets Bureau and the Garda dog unit.
Separately, cocaine worth €20,000 euro was seized at North Great Charles Street, in north inner city Dublin, today. A 50-year-old man arrested and is being questioned at Store Street Garda station.
