GARDAÍ HAVE SEIZED “11 military grade” guns in a series of raids targeting an organised crime group in Laois and Kildare.

In a major operation running for the last two days members of the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), supported by colleagues from the Garda Eastern Region, the Dublin Crime Response Team and the Emergency Response Unit raids multiple locations.

A garda statement said that searches were conducted at six locations in the Laois and Kildare areas which resulted in the seizure of three machine guns and eight pistols, ammunition and silencers as well as quantities of heroin, cocaine and cannabis with an estimated street value of more than €700,000.

Two men, both aged in their 40s, were arrested and are detained at stations in the Midlands under anti-gangland legislation Section 50 of Criminal Justice 2007. They can be held for a maximum of seven days. 

Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis, head of Organised and Serious Crime, said the successful operation is a major blow to organised crime. 

“The recovery of military-grade firearms, handguns and substantial quantities of illicit drugs has removed highly dangerous weapons and harmful substances from circulation, reducing the threat posed to the public and preventing significant criminal profits from being generated,” she said.

In an unusually expansive statement the Assistant Commissioner said that the operation highlighted the “effectiveness of intelligence-led policing” and the strong collaboration between An Garda Síochána and  national and international law enforcement partners.

“Organised crime groups operate across borders and exploit international supply chains, making cooperation and information sharing essential to our response.

“The targeting of firearms trafficking and drug trafficking remains a key priority under the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), and aligns closely with priorities being advanced during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

“Today’s results demonstrate the tangible impact that coordinated European and international action can have in disrupting the business models of organised crime groups,” she said. 

Willis spoke about Operation Tara, the national initiative targeting the drug trade since 2021, and the effective operations over the last week across the country. 

“In summary, in the past week 11 persons have been arrested for various offences under organised crime, firearms and drug trafficking legislation in operations carried out by An Garda Síochána.

“Over €9 million worth of controlled drugs including, heroin, cocaine and cannabis has been seized along with cannabis oil infused vapes and jellies aimed at our young people,” she added. 

The statement listed that in Cork, last Monday, GNDOCB along with Revenue Customs service and the Cork Divisional Drugs Unit allegedly seized 83.5kg of cannabis herb valued at €1.67 million. One man was arrested and charged.

On Tuesday GNDOCB along with Revenue Customs allegedly seized €1.93million of cannabis herb at Hillcrest, Lucan. Three men were arrested and charged.

On Wednesday there were seven searches carried out in the midlands, west and east of the country during which more than €2million worth of various cannabis products were seized. Three men were arrested and charged.

On Thursday the GNDOCB along with Revenue Customs seized 23kg of cocaine valued at €1.6 million following the search of a container that had arrived into Dublin Port from South America. 

On the same day the GNDOCB again along with Dublin Metropolitan Region North Divisional Drugs Unit and Revenue Customs allegedly seized 73kg of cannabis herb valued at €1.46 million. Two men were arrested at the scene and charged.

These seizures form part of Operation Tara; an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, launched in July 2021.

The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels – international, national, local – involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.