Mobile lab with €5m of cocaine found in Kildare
Revenue Customs and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) involved
A €5.2 million cocaine seizure in Co Kildare was part of a major international operation targeting some of the world's most threatening criminal networks, it has emerged.
The operation involved authorities in 34 countries across Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and other regions, with Ireland participating through Revenue Customs and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB).
As part of Operation ATLAS NEXUS, an intelligence-led investigation in Ireland targeted a criminal organisation suspected of importing cocaine concealed in consignments of wood from Colombia.
The investigation culminated in a search operation in the Kildare area on June 23, 2026.
A mobile laboratory was discovered in a truck trailer, along with chemicals and equipment believed to have been used to extract cocaine from the imported material.
A total of 74kg of cocaine was identified concealed within wooden sheets imported from South America.
Forensic Science Ireland identified the extraction method, with the cocaine estimated to have a value of €5.2 million.
Approximately 32kg of suspected herbal cannabis, estimated to be worth €640,000, was also seized.
Three men were arrested, charged and are currently before the courts.
Investigations are continuing, with the assistance of Interpol, on both sides of the Atlantic to identify other people allegedly involved in the criminal network.
The Kildare seizure was one of a number of Irish actions carried out as part of Operation ATLAS NEXUS.
A separate operation at Dublin Port on July 9 resulted in the seizure of approximately 24kg of cocaine, worth an estimated €1.6 million.
Revenue Customs officers and the GNDOCB searched containers arriving from South America, with the drugs discovered in a refrigerated container which had travelled via Rotterdam.
The search was assisted by Revenue detector dog Gerry and the Revenue Mobile X-Ray Scanning Unit.
Investigations into the network behind that attempted importation are also continuing on both sides of the Atlantic.
Operation ATLAS NEXUS was carried out under Operational Action 6.1 of EMPACT, the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats, which focuses on the most threatening criminal networks and individuals.
The operation targeted five priority criminal markets: drug trafficking, human trafficking, document fraud, firearms trafficking and environmental crime.
It involved regional and international organisations including Europol, Interpol, Frontex, CARICOM IMPACS, AMERIPOL, MAOC(N) and RSS, as well as law enforcement agencies from countries including Australia, Montenegro, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the US.
Across the operation, more than 156 tonnes of controlled drugs were seized and 490 people arrested, with a number of criminal networks identified and dismantled.
The operation was supported by the EU's EL PACCTO 2.0 programme, Frontex and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS).