Fine Gael has hit out at the Justice Minister, Brian Lenihan, claiming that he has instigated a scaling down of garda operations targeting gangland crime.

A MAN is due to appear in court this morning in connection with the discovery of a cocaine factory in Dublin on Friday night.

Four people have been arrested following a series of raids in Dublin last night, as part of Operation Anvil.

MORE than 6,000 people have been arrested and 640 firearms confiscated as part of a major crackdown on organised crime.

Garda raids in Co Tipperary have led to the discovery of a six-figure cash sum and jewellery stashed in open ground, it was revealed last night.

MORE than 12,000 people have been arrested in a crackdown on organised crime.

A 38-year-old man was being questioned today after gardaí seized a small arsenal of guns in west Dublin.

A DUBLIN barman was gunned down last night in a slaying which had all the hallmarks of a contract killing.

Gardaí have made 3,680 arrests over the past 18 months as part of an operation targeting criminal gangs in Dublin, according to Fianna Fáil TD Charlie O'Connor.

DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea yesterday declared that to prevent feud attacks in Limerick, the authorities would need to deploy every garda in the country.

Two people were arrested today following the largest seizure of heroin in the history of the state.

Gardaí in Dublin have seized a huge quantity of heroin during a raid on what they are describing as a drugs-mixing factory in the Clondalkin area of the city.

A 20-year-old Limerick man, has appeared before a special court sitting on charges connected to a firearms and ammunition seizure in the city yesterday.

Gardaí in Limerick have arrested four men in connection with firearms offences.

An armed robbery attempt on a post office in Co Westmeath was foiled by gardaí today as part of an operation targeting criminal activity in the midlands.

Gardaí in Athlone have arrested two men this morning in connection with an investigation into the activity of armed criminals in the midlands.

WATERFORD needs more targeted, expert garda power and resources to tackle drugs and drug dealers, a local TD says. And he’s vowed to fight to have those resources deployed in the region.

GARDAÍ have arrested 23 people for murder and seized property worth €5.7 million as a result of a nine-month operation to tackle gangland crime in Dublin.

€5.7m worth of property has been recovered since the start of Operation Anvil, according to garda figures released today.

Nobody is above the law, Justice Minister Michael McDowell insisted today as gardaí struggled to cope with a murderous surge in gangland violence in Dublin.

GARDA headquarters emphasised last night that no resources will be spared in achieving the aims of Operation Anvil.

Gardaí defended their performance tonight in the wake of another gangland murder in west Dublin.

The Gardaí are reportedly planning to seek more funding from the Government to tackle organised crime gangs in Dublin.

DUBLIN’S major criminals have left the country for extended holidays and are unlikely to return until a multi million euro garda crackdown on crime is wound down, it was claimed last night.

GARDAÍ yesterday seized firearms and a large quantity of drugs in a planned search of a Traveller’s site in west Dublin.

GARDAÍ involved in Operation Anvil seized cannabis with an estimated street value of €1m when they stopped a jeep in Co Meath.

THREE men arrested by detectives involved in two major but completely separate operations are in custody today on unrelated charges.

Gardaí have arrested three men in Meath as part of Operation Anvil, which was set up to target armed gangs and gun crime in Dublin, it emerged today.