Breaking: Men appear in court over Kilkenny drugs haul

Two men have appeared in court in connection with a seizure of approximately €41,000 worth of cannabis.

On Friday night members of Kilkenny Roads Policing Unit were carrying out a checkpoint as part of Operation Surround when they stopped a car in Ballyragget. The male driver and passenger drove away from the checkpoint and crashed  and overturned the vehicle a short time later on the Ballyragget to Freshford Road.

Both men, who are understood to be in their thirties sustained minor injuries.

Kilkenny village claims 'Pride of Place' award

Gardaí searched the vehicle and discovered cannabis with an approximate value of €40,000. 

The two men were arrested and detained. A follow up search took place at a house in Ballyragget over the weekend and a further quantity of cannabis, valued at €1,000 was seized along with drugs paraphernalia.

Both men have appeared in court and were remanded in custody in relation to the seizure.

Operation Surround is a regional garda operation which is targeting towns and villages across Kilkenny with checkpoints for drink and drug driving as well as to target travelling criminals. The operation commenced over the October bank holiday weekend and will run throughout the festive period.