Issue Date: 21/09/2026
An Garda Síochána along with law enforcement partners worldwide, has participated in Operation Atlas Nexus, targeting five priority criminal markets: drug trafficking, human trafficking, document fraud, firearms trafficking and environmental crime.
The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau Operation and the Revenue Customs Service participated in this operation co-ordinated by the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, (FRONTEX) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS).
A total of 34 countries from Latin America, The Caribbean, Europe and other regions took part, together with organisations including AMERIPOL, CARICOM IMPACS, EUROPOL, FRONTEX, INTERPOL, MAOC(N) and the Regional Security System (RSS) Australia, Montenegro, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
The international operation resulted in the identification of numerous transnational criminal networks leading to more than 490 people being arrested internationally.
It resulted in seizures exceeding 156.9 tonnes of drugs, along with 201 weapons, 3131 units of ammunition and explosives, 803 wild animals and livestock, US$135.000 in cash and cryptocurrencies, 0.83 kg of gold, 169 properties, 464 pieces of jewellery, 468 fraudulent documents and 1 vehicle.
Furthermore, 18 victims were rescued and attended. A number of criminal networks were dismantled.
As part of Operation Atlas Nexus, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and Revenue Customs conducted a number of operational actions including:
• An operation targeting the activity of a criminal organisation suspected to be involved in the importation cocaine that was believed to be camouflaged within consignments of wood being shipped from Colombia. This criminal organisation was also involved in the distribution of cannabis. This operation culminated in a search operation on 23rd June 2026. A mobile laboratory was discovered in a truck trailer along with equipment and chemicals used in the extraction process for cocaine. In total 74 kg of cocaine with an approximate value of €5,180,000 was identified camouflaged in wooden sheets imported from South America and 32 kg of Cannabis was also recovered.
Three males were arrested at the time and are currently charged and before the courts.
• A joint intelligence led operation conducted at Dublin Port on Thursday, 9th July 2026 by Revenue Customs officers supported by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, where containers arriving from South America were subjected to search. This resulted in the seizure of approximately 24 kg of cocaine with an estimated value of €1.6 million. The illicit drugs were discovered with the assistance of detector dog Gerry and Revenue’s Mobile X-Ray Scanning Unit.
Investigations ongoing.
