As part of an ongoing operation to combat organised criminal activity in the South Eastern region Gardai from Tipperary, Kilkenny and Waterford supported by the Regional Support Unit with the assistance of Officers from Customs & Excise commenced "Operation Munster" on the 4th March 2014.
The operation targeted a specific organised crime gang operating in criminal activities, namely burglaries, across the above named counties. During the operation 42 residential premises were searched and an amount of property was seized, the property included jewellery and electronic equipment.
A total of 12 people were arrested during the operation (of various ages). Eight (6 males & 2 females) of them are being detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 as amended for which they can be detained for up to 7 days. Another two persons (1 male & 1 female) were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 but have since been released. The final two were arrested on warrant and have been lodged in prison. They are all being detained at various Garda stations in the South East (Thurles, Cahir, Clonmel, Kilkenny, Dungarvan and Tramore).
As part of the lead up to this mornings operation a number of the gang members have had their bank accounts frozen. The gang are suspected to be responsible for a large amount of burglaries. During these burglaries a number of legally held firearms, and quantities of jewellery, cash, electronic goods and other valuable items were stolen. As part of this investigation Gardaí have recovered a eight firearms (shotguns) in recent weeks in the Clonmel area.
