MORE THAN 20 individuals appeared in court today on drug-related charges, as part of the six-month, covert Garda operation, codenamed “Tempest.”
The 23 accused, who were all arrested in Dublin’s north inner city, appeared before Judge Denis McLoughlin in Court 4 at the Criminal Courts of Justice.
The vast majority of charges involved small amounts of drugs being sold to undercover Gardaí between January and June this year.
In total there were 87 separate charges, with just over half (48) involving heroin.
There were 34 offences related to cannabis, seven involving prescription pills including diazepam and alprazolam, and two charges involving cocaine.
A holiday in Lanzarote
Almost all defendants were remanded on continuing bail to appear again at the CCJ on 2 October.
One suspect, accused of selling heroin and tablets to undercover Gardaí on five occasions, had her hearing pushed back to 10 October, on the grounds that she would be on holidays in Lanzarote on 2 October.
Judge McLoughlin dismissed her subsequent application for free legal aid, stating that if she could afford a holiday in Lanzarote, she could afford the services of a solicitor.
Operation Tempest culminated on Tuesday with a series of raids on addresses throughout the north inner city.
Some 30 individuals were arrested between 11-19 August, with 16 arrests alone on Tuesday.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Chief Superintendent Patrick Leahy said small amounts of heroin, cocaine and cannabis, as well as cash, had been seized.
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