UPDATE: Documents, phones and computers seized during CAB operation in Limerick

DOCUMENTS, mobile phones and computers have been seized by gardai investigating the activities of a criminal organisation which is operating on the southside of Limerick city.

A series of searches targeting the gang and its associates were carried out at locations in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary this Wednesday.

While the searches were led by officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Limerick Leader has learned the overall operation and investigation is being led by senior officers in Limerick.

“Everything about this operation was focusing on the operations of these people and their activities in Limerick city,” said a senior source.

It is understood concerns about a particular property transaction resulted in an investigation being launched, culminating in the searches being carried out.

A significant search took place at a location on the outskirts of the city where the gang is suspected to be operating from while searches were also carried out at a number of business premises in Clare and Tipperary.

These included the offices of a solicitor and an auctioneer who have connections with suspected members of the gang.

A spokesperson at the Garda Press Office said the searches were connected to “ongoing investigations into the purchase of land, vehicles and other assets by organised criminal groups based in the region.”

It is understood gardai suspect members of gang may have acquired assets using money which was acquired as a result of criminal activity.

While members of the gang are suspected to have carried out a number of burglaries around the country in recent months, the primary focus of this Wednesday’s operation was their activities in Limerick.

Members of the armed Regional Support Unit (RSU) as well as local gardaí were also deployed during the search operation which lasted several hours.

All of the documentation, mobile phones, computer equipment and other electronic devices which were seized during the operation will be subjected to detailed examination over the coming weeks.

No arrests were made and investigations into the activities of the gang are continuing.