A huge Garda operation saw eight agencies search over 20 premises in Dublin on Wednesday - with six arrests made after a huge haul was recovered by officers.
Watches, cars and €700,000 in cash were all seized by officials during the operation, which was designed to address drug related issues being experienced in West Dublin and wider afield, including drug related threat to life incidents and other forms of intimidation.
The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), assisted by other specialised units, including, the Special Crime Task Force (SCTF), the Special Tactics and Operations Command (STOC), the Air Support Unit (ASU), the Dog Unit, the Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit (SMVIU) and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) were all involved.
The operation saw searches of a total of twenty-four (24) premises, the majority of which are located in West Dublin, Ballyfermot, Clondalkin, Lucan and Crumlin, in particular, but also in Dublin city centre. While most of the premises are places of residence a small number of business premises were also searched.
The operation also involved the stopping and searching of particular vehicles.
Numerous quantities of cash were seized with an estimated total of about €700,000.
One particular seizure of cash arose from a search of a vehicle registered in Northern Ireland, while it was travelling North bound on the N3. The vehicle was stopped with assistance provided by the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and resulted in the seizure of cash to an estimated total value of €200,000.
Other items seized, include, 16 watches assessed each to be of significant value and a total of eight vehicles, along with media devices, including mobile telephones and documentation purporting to relate to particular business related activity.
A total of six suspects were arrested, including five males, aged in their 30’s and 40’s and one female aged 33 years. The arrests relate to suspected participation in the activities of a criminal organisation, to facilitate money laundering and drug trafficking.
All suspects are currently detained pursuant to the provisions of section 50 of Criminal Justice Act, 2007, at various Garda stations within the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR).
Investigations are ongoing and are assessed to be making significant progress.
Today, Detective Chief Superintendent Seamus Boland, who is head of Bureau at the GNDOCB, said: "This operation, led by the GNDOCB, assisted by a significant number of other Garda Siochana personnel, including a number assigned to local drug units located in West Dublin, was designed to make a significant impact on those involved in OCGs who are causing significant damage to communities in West Dublin and elsewhere.
"The seizure of cash, valuable goods, vehicles and particular documents and the associated arrests is considered an important step in An Garda Siochana’s ambition to effectively tackle the criminal groups involved”.
While Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll said: "Through initiatives such as Operation Tara, criminals who are involved in Organised Crime Groups that threaten the life and welfare of those living in communities throughout Ireland, will experience the determination of An Garda Síochána to ensure they are prosecuted and their organisations dismantled."
