Gardaí launch national crackdown on organised prostitution

Gardaí have searched 22 premises across the country over the past two days in a crack-down on organised prostitution.

One man was arrested in Swords during the course of the investigation.

Since yesterday morning gardaí have searched a total of 22 premises - including apartments, flats and houses - in Letterkenny, Dundalk, Clonmel, Waterford, Cavan, Mullingar, Limerick, Ballina, Ennis, Newbridge and Cork, along with 11 locations in the Dublin area.

It follows a six-month long investigation by the Organised Crime Unit.

More than 60 gardaí were involved in the raids during which documentation, mobile phones, computers and money were all seized.

A number of women at the premises were interviewed by Gardaí and have been offered support and advice.

As part of the investigation, a man in his 30s was arrested during the search of an apartment in Swords yesterday morning on suspicion of money laundering.

He was detained at Ballymun Garda Station, but has since been released without charge.

A file is being prepared for the DPP.

The operation was conducted in co-operation with Europol as part of an initiative targeting mobile organised crime groups in Europe.