Six people are still being questioned after gardaí raided what they believe to be a cocaine mixing factory being operated in Dublin for the Kinahan organised crime group.
During the planned search of a business premises on the Long Mile Road yesterday, gardaí seized 40kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of €2.8m, along with more than 2,000 canisters of nitric oxide and €78,000 in cash.
A hydraulic drugs press, drug mixing paraphernalia, a quantity of mixing agent, a money counter and several communication devices were also seized.
Earlier, officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau supported by the Special Crime Task Force intercepted two vehicles shortly after 11am in the Ballyfermot and Blanchardstown areas.
Seven men and one woman, aged in their late 20s to early 50s, were arrested in relation to drug trafficking and questioned at a number of garda stations in Dublin.
Two of the men have since been released without charge.
'Serious effect' on organised crime
Gardaí have described the seizure as significant and believe it is a major disruption to the Kinahan organised crime group's drugs distribution network in Ireland.
Justin Kelly, the Assistant Commissioner for Organised and Serious Crime, said the raid yesterday on the business premises on the Long Mile Road will have a serious effect because "there was a significant cocaine mixing facility that we've taken out of action".
Mr Kelly added that "the public can be assured that An Garda Síochána are determined to target all transnational groups involved in this type of activity".
He said: "The dismantling of a distribution network really puts groups like that back, because it takes substantial effort for them to re-establish those networks and re-establish supply lines.
"Our targeting is upstream targeting, we're trying to target the people who are at that level and that's why operations like yesterday take a lot of effort, time and resources by An Garda Síochána," he added.
Assistant Commissioner Kelly raised particular concern about the recovery of over 2,000 canisters of nitrous oxide during the planned raid.
"Nitrous oxide is a substance that has been abused by young people in this country and in other jurisdictions we have seen this has led to deaths and serious harm."
He said "it is a particular concern to us that the same organised crime groups that are involved in the importation and distribution of cocaine are also involved now in the distribution of nitrous oxide and the resulting harm to our communities."
Additional reporting Fergal O'Brien
