Dissidents And Organised Crime Targeted

There have been two dramatic police operations taking place today.

One was targeted at republican dissidents and the other was part of an ongoing operation investigating organised crime in the Dublin area.

It was being led by the Gardaí National Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

Over 50 premises have been searched today, (Thursday) and, as a result, a total of €70,000 cash has been seized, a small quantity of cocaine and a small quantity of cannabis has also been recovered.

One man in his mid-twenties has been arrested in relation to the drugs offences and is being detained at Crumlin Gardaí station under Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act.

A suspected firearm has been recovered and a quantity of what is believed to be stolen property (mostly electrical/electronic equipment) has been also been recovered.

A substantial quantity of documentary and computer based evidence has been seized and will be examined in an effort to identify offences under the Criminal Justice Act 1994 (Money Laundering) or other criminal activity.

Evidence has also been recovered from various business and private residences which is currently being examined by the Criminal Assets Bureau.

This evidence is believed to relate to assets which are the proceeds of crime.

Gardaí Members from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation; Criminal Assets Bureau; Bureau of Fraud Investigation; National Drugs Unit; Operational Support Unit, the Emergency Response Unit, as well as uniform and detective Gardaí from across the city were involved.

It has also just been revealed that, as part of on-going investigations into dissident republican activity in the Dublin area, Gardaí from the Special Detective Unit have arrested two men in the Newport Street area of Dublin today.

It has emerged that a firearm was recovered during the course of this operation.

The two men in their 30s and 50s are currently detained at Donnybrook Station under Section 30 Offences against the State Act.

(BMcC/JM)