Over €8 million worth of suspected cocaine has been seized in Co Laois, in an operation targeting an organised crime gang based in west Dublin.
Gardaí made the discovery during a planned search of a house and lands in the south of the county earlier today.
Gardaí from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau have been carrying out searches in Co Laois over the last number of days - as part of this operation, targeting the activities of an organised crime gang based in west Dublin.
Today, during the course of their searches, they found 116 kilos of suspected cocaine hidden in the woods at Kilnaseer, close to Ballacolla.
The drugs are valued at over €8 million.
Detectives also recovered a number of electronic devices, including phones, which will now be examined.
A man in his 30s has been arrested and is being questioned at a garda station in Laois under anti-gang legislation.
Speaking following the operation, the Head of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, Detective Chief Superintendent Séamus Boland, said gardaí will continue to focus their resources on those who "collaborate with and facilitate organised crime".
He said officers are determined to continue dismantling drug trafficking routes into Ireland.
