Dubliners were among seven men who were in Garda custody last night after they were caught red-handed in a suspected elaborate armed plot to abduct a businessman.
The suspects – from Belfast, Tyrone, Clonsilla, Drogheda and Clondalkin areas – were arrested by elite armed officers as they were about to abduct him.
The man, who was previously the target of the Criminal Assets Bureau, was left unscathed after officers swooped in an intelligence-led operation in Co Cavan on Sunday night.
The suspects were caught in four different cars and a number of firearms, ammunition, balaclavas and mobile phones were discovered inside the vehicles.
Gardai believe the men intended to abduct, blackmail and extort him for money in a complex plot that was planned out for some time.
But officers were close on their tail, and in a surveillance operation, caught the men as they were about to make their way to carry out that plot in the Bawnboy area of Cavan on Sunday night.
The males are all believed to be part of a criminal network that was intent on kidnapping the car dealer and extorting him.
Two of the suspects are aged in their 20s, four in their 30s and one in their 40s.
Some of the men arrested are Irish while others are foreign nationals with addresses here.
It is understood those held have links to organised crime and the operation has been described as significant.
Gardai announced details of the arrest operation in a statement yesterday.
It read: “Cavan gardai have arrested seven men following an operation targeting a potential Blackmail/Extortion plot in Co Cavan, yesterday afternoon, on Sunday March 7, 2021.
“Gardai in Cavan district, acting on information received, identified four cars in the area and conducted a number of stop and searches.
“All seven men are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Ballyconnell and Cavan Garda stations.”
They were released late last night without charge, and a garda spokesman added: "All seven men arrested in relation to a potential blackmail / extortion plot in Co. Cavan, yesterday, Sunday 7th March, been released without charge. Files will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
"Investigations are ongoing."
The businessman came to the CAB’s attention in 2012, with the Bureau claiming a variety of vehicles in his possesion were bought with the proceeds of crime.
In 2013, CAB collected almost €100,000 from him under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Bureau officers also seized a substantial amount exceeding €100,000 from a bank account and the sums were forfeited to the Exchequer.
