A woman in her 20s has been charged after Gardaí seized cannabis with an estimated street value of €280,000 during a vehicle search on the M7 in Co Laois. The stop and search happened on Wednesday, November 4, at Clondouglas, Portlaoise, involving members of An Garda Síochána’s Laois Drugs Unit and Laois Roads Policing Unit. Gardaí found approximately 20kg of cannabis inside the vehicle. The search was carried out under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and 1984. The woman was arrested and taken to Abbeyleix Garda Station, where she was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. She then appeared in Portlaoise District Court on Thursday, November 5, charged under Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and 1984. The case is due back in court on February 22, 2027. Gardaí said no further comment would be made because the matter is now before the courts.