As part of a major investigation into organised crime, members of An Garda Síochána have this morning carried out a search and arrest operation in the wider Dublin area and in County Meath.
Working closely with law enforcement colleagues in Spain, Belgium and the United Kingdom, Gardaí have been targeting the activities of an Irish organised crime gang for a considerable period of time. The group’s activities are believed to include the supply and distribution of controlled drugs and firearms as well as extensive money laundering.
This morning’s searches of both business and residential premises were conducted by detectives from units within National Support Services together with other specialist units and local Gardaí.
Simultaneous searches and arrests have been carried out in Spain by the Spanish National Police and by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in the United Kingdom. Garda members from GNDU are based in Spain and United Kingdom for the duration of the operation and law enforcement officers from Spain and the UK together with a representative from Europol are present here.
In total 17 premises have been searched to date and 1 man has been arrested here in Ireland. The man in his mid 20s was arrested in the north inner city and is currently detained at Store Street station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Drug Trafficking Act, 1996.
Commenting on the investigation, the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy said:
“This is an extensive and focused investigation into organised criminal activity targeting drug trafficking, money laundering and firearms crime. Over a significant period of time An Garda Síochána has engaged in the highest levels of cooperation and partnership with law enforcement colleagues in a number of key countries including the Spanish National Police, SOCA in the United Kingdom and the Belgians culminating in today's operation."
Noting that a number of the individuals arrested elsewhere today were Irish nationals, the Commissioner said:
"The message from today’s operation is clear: there is no hiding place for those who seek to bring misery and hurt to communities here in Ireland and abroad. If people choose to trade drugs and death across borders, police will work together across those same borders to address that challenge and disrupt criminal activity.”
SOCA’s Trevor Pearce said: “This scale of this joint operation by law enforcement agencies from so many countries is an indication of how prolific we think this network was. Today’s arrests will have dealt a major blow to an organised criminal business suspected of supplying drugs and guns to gangs in cities across the UK and Europe. It highlights SOCA’s role in coordinating complex investigations into organised crime, which always has an international dimension.
“We also believe this network has been offering a global investment service, ploughing hundreds of millions of pounds of dirty cash into offshore accounts, companies, and property on behalf of criminals. A financial investigation is already underway.”
Garda Press Office
25.5.2010 1050 hours
Note to Editors:
The operation is still ongoing. Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Quilter of the Garda National Drugs Unit will be available for comment later today (time to be confirmed)
