Gardaí seize ten guns, over €5m worth of drugs and cash in series of Dublin raids

Gardaí have seized illicit drugs worth almost €5 million, ten guns and €100,000 in cash during an operation targeting criminal gangs in Dublin.

Six arrests have been made in connection with the seizures, details of which have been revealed this Thursday evening.

"Over the past week, gardaí from regional and divisional units across Dublin have undertaken in excess of 20 search operations targeting serious crime and illicit drug supply in the city," confirmed a spokesperson.

During one search on Good Friday, a PM-63C RAK semi-automatic machine pistol, and nine rounds of Ammunition were recovered by gardaí in Clondalkin during the search of a house. 

Gardai say a man who was arrested at the property has since been released and that a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Two firearms were recovered by gardaí in Ballyfermot following a search of a local park last Saturday while on Tuesday cannabis with an estimated value of €80,000 was seized when members of the Dublin Crime Response Team conducted a planned search of a residential property in Fortunestown, Dublin 24. One man, in his 40s, was subsequently arrested and charged.

On Wednesday, gardaí from Ronanstown searched four properties in the Clondalkin area and seized seven guns and ammunition along with €200,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine and €100,000 in cash.

According to gardai, tracker devices and phones were also discovered during the search operation and €67,000 was frozen in a bank account.

In another search, at a business premises in Dublin 12 on Wednesday, Cannabis Herb and Cocaine valued at €3 million was seized and three individuals arrested.

They are currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Drugs Trafficking Act, 1996 at Garda Stations in the Dublin region.

In a separate operation, details of which were confirmed earlier this Thursday, Revenue officers discovered 55 kilograms of herbal cannabis, worth around €1.1million, concealed in a van arriving on a ferry from the UK. 

Gardai say all of the seized drugs will undergo analysis by Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) while the firearms will undergo ballistic and forensic examination.

Commenting this Thursday evening, Assistant Commissioner for the Dublin Region, Angela Willis said:"I wish to acknowledge the continuous efforts of our members working across the city in tackling serious criminality and those that cause the most harm to communities. Removing ten lethal firearms from circulation will no doubt save many lives and contribute to our efforts to keep communities safe.

"The impact of the seizure of significant quantities of illicit drugs and cash, believed to represent the proceeds of criminality, will also ensure that we continue to affect the ability of criminal networks to operate in our communities.