Five people have been arrested following a major Garda operation targeting a criminal gang in Ireland suspected of drug and human trafficking.
Gardai made the arrests yesterday following a series of searches in Dublin, Cork, Waterford and Kerry as part of an international operation.
The operation was part of a joint investigation between gardai, the PSNI, officers in Lithuania and Europol targeting the activities of an organised criminal group suspected to be involved in human trafficking, drug trafficking and associated money laundering.
The operation resulted in five Irish arrests all of which were brought before a special sitting of the High Court for extradition proceedings.
4 of the individuals remanded in custody to the High Court at a later date while the fifth individual was remanded on bail to the High Court at a later date, subject to certain conditions.
Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll, who heads up Organised and Serious Crime (OSC) within the gardai said: "The operational activity undertaken across three jurisdictions yesterday illustrates the potential to tackle suspected criminal activity engaged in by those who are involved in organised crime that has an international dimension”.
A total of 18 arrests were made during the massive coordinated operation to smash the organised crime group suspected of trafficking victims from Lithuania to Ireland and Northern Ireland to facilitate class A drug dealing.
The organised crime group, composed of Lithuanian nationals, is suspected of having trafficked large quantities of heroin to Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Europol said in a statement: "These criminals had set up a complex distribution network in these two countries, exploiting victims they had trafficked from Lithuania to act as drug dealers and drug mules on their behalf.
"At least 65 individuals coming from a vulnerable social background or being drug addicts themselves, have been identified as having been trafficked from this criminal network.
Commenting on the sting, the Head of Europol’s Serious Organised Crime Centre, Jari Liukku, said: "These are fantastic results that are the culmination of a major investigation involving teams from across Europe working closely together to target criminals who are causing harm in local communities.
"I hope people are reassured by this robust and coordinated approach which sends a loud and clear message to those involved in the supply of class A drugs: we will pursue you tirelessly and relentlessly."
