LATEST: Gardai seize 'substantial quantity' of drugs after intercepting car in north Kerry

A man is being questioned by gardai following a significant drugs seizure in north Kerry.

In an update, investigating gardai say the drugs were seized on Friday night during a pre-planned operation targeting the sale and distribution of controlled drugs and associated criminal activity in the Southern Region.

The operation involved gardaí from the Kerry Divisional Drugs Unit and the local Crime Unit.

"Shortly after 10pm on Friday, gardaí intercepted a vehicle in Listowel and recovered a substantial quantity of cannabis and cocaine," said a spokesperson who added that the seized drugs have an estimated street value of over €170,000.

The driver of the car, a man in his 20s, was arrested at the scene and he is currently being detained under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a garda station in County Kerry.

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An image released by the Garda Press Office (see above) show the drugs located on what appears to be the passenger seat of the vehicle after it was intercepted.

Gardai say the drugs will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for detailed analysis and that investigations following Friday's seizure are ongoing.

It's understood that further updates relating to the seizure - which forms part of Operation Tara - will be issued later in the weekend.

Operation Tara is an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, which was launched in July 2021.

Gardai say the focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national, local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.