Dublin Port was sealed off in a major security incident after a mortar launcher was discovered there early this morning.
The weapon was discovered in the back of a van by Customs officers when they stopped a courier as she was coming through the port at around 1am.
Local gardai, a Special Detective Unit and the Army Bomb Disposal Team raced to the scene before sealing off the busy port for hours.
The 82mm Soviet mortar launcher was declared safe at around 5:30am and no ammunition was discovered.
The weapon is currently being examined by the Ballistics team of the Garda Technical Bureau.
The courier, a woman in her 20s, has been arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 and detained at Store Street garda station.
It's understood the mortar was destined for a collector in Northern Ireland and there was no criminal intent involved in its importation.
A garda spokesman said: "An Garda Síochána has carried out enquiries with the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
"At this time An Garda Síochána is satisfied that there was no criminal intent in the importation of what is a decommissioned Russian manufactured 82mm KRH 36Y mortar launcher, which appears to be destined for a private collection in Northern Ireland.
"An Garda Síochána continues to investigate the importation of this firearm into this jurisdiction."
We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.
For the latest news and breaking news visit dublinlive.ie/news.
Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.
Follow us on Twitter @DublinLive - the official Dublin Live Twitter account - real news in real time.
We're also on Facebook/dublinlive - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the capital.
