Caught red-handed Man charged after bag containing €70K of heroin thrown from car near checkpoint

Gardaí, backed up by the Mallow District Drugs Unit, Mallow Detective Branch and the Regional Dog Unit, searched the vehicle, its two occupants and the surrounding area.

Garda checkpoint (stock)

Neil Fetherstonhaugh

March 18 2021 09:05 AM

A man is due before Midleton District Court this morning after gardai seized heroin worth €70,000 in Rathduff, Co Cork on Tuesday.

Two men were arrested by Gardai who had been conducting a checkpoint in Rathduff at approximately 6.45pm.

Officers attached to Mallow Roads Policing Unit noticed a car stopping short of the checkpoint and one of the occupants threw a bag a short distance away.

Gardaí, backed up by the Mallow District Drugs Unit, Mallow Detective Branch and the Regional Dog Unit, searched the vehicle, its two occupants and the surrounding area.

They then discovered the suspected heroin with an estimated street value of €70,000. The two men, aged in their 30s and 40s, were arrested at the scene and taken to Mallow Garda Station where they were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.

The man in his 30s, has since been released without charge and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The second man, aged in his 40s, has since been charged and is due to appear before Midleton District Court this morning at 10.30am.

Gardai say investigations are ongoing.