Callinan: 25 organised crime gangs in country

There are 25 organised crime gangs operating in Ireland, including five with significant international links, new Garda figures show.

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said Irish gangs were joining forces with Russian outfits in the supply of drugs and cigarettes while Eastern European networks were involved in supplying firearms as well as narcotics.

Speaking at the Oireachtas Justice Committee, he said more drugs were seized in the first nine months of this year (over €90m), compared to the whole of last year (€89m).