Gardai find machete and cocaine after searching car in Limerick

A 19-YEAR-OLD man has appeared before a special court sitting following the seizure of drugs, cash and a machete during an operation in Limerick

A garda spokesperson said detectives from Roxboro Road garda station stopped a vehicle in the Patrickswell area shortly after 8pm on Friday night.

"During the search of the car, gardaí recovered cocaine worth €9,000 (analysis pending), €1,000 in cash, and a machete. The driver and sole occupant of the car, a 19-year-old male, was arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a garda station in Limerick," said a garda spokesperson.

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He has since been charged and appeared before a special sitting of Ennis District Court on Saturday afternoon.

The garda spokesperson said it was part of ongoing investigations into the sale and supply of controlled drugs and related criminal activity in the Limerick area.

Last Wednesday and Thursday, gardai seized cocaine, heroin and cannabis with combined value of €420,000 and €250,000 in cash during a number of searches in St Mary's Park.