Man arrested following seizure of cocaine and 'press machine' during Kildare search

A man has been arrested by gardai following a significant drugs seizure in Co. Kildare earlier this week.

Gardaí from the Kildare North Drugs Unit, with assistance from the Leixlip Detective Unit and the Garda Dog Unit, say they conducted a planned search of a residential property in Carbury, County Kildare on Thursday.

The search, a spokesperson confirmed, was conducted as part of Operation Tara and was connected with ongoing investigations targeting individuals involved in the distribution of cocaine in the north Kildare and mid/west areas.

"During the search, gardaí recovered 2.3 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of €186,600 (pending analysis). Additionally, a press machine for the preparation of cocaine was also seized," said a spokesperson.

A man, aged in his late 30s, was arrested at the scene and he is currently being detained and questioned at a garda station in north Kildare under the provisions of Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act, 1996. 

Gardai say all of the items seized at the property are undergoing analysis at Forensic Science Ireland.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing.

Subject to court orders, the suspect can be detained for up to seven days without charge.