THREE OF THE 14 people arrested yesterday as part of an ongoing garda investigation into organised crime in the south-east have been released without charge.

The three men were released shortly before midnight.

This morning, gardaí carried out further searches on homes and businesses in the Carlow area and arrested two other men. Aged in their 20s and 40s, the men are being held under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.

In total, 13 people are now in custody in connection with the searches carried out by gardaí and officers from the Revenue Customs Service. Over 30 properties have been searched across six counties and gardaí said yesterday that they seized a large consignment of contraband cigarettes during one of the searches.

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Three men released, two more arrested in south-east search operation

Read more: 14 arrests as gardaí search over two dozen properties >

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.