Gardaí vow: no let-up in Operation Anvil
To date, the highly successful garda operation in the Dublin metropolitan area has yielded the recovery of property topping e2.2 million and led to hundreds of arrests.
Four people suspected of murder offences have been among the 753 people arrested since the operation was launched in May.
The Garda Press Office said last night Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy was committed to continuing the progress made under Operation Anvil.
Despite the success of the operation, there have been 12 gangland killings in Dublin this year.
Labour’s Joan Burton accused Justice Minister Michael McDowell of complacency in the wake of a series of shootings in Dublin. The latest was this week’s slaying of Mark Glennon in Blanchardstown.
However, the gardaí underpinned the success of Operation Anvil in a weekly update of the project.
From May 17 until September 5, 12,037 checkpoints were set up.
The number of arrests showed four were arrested for murder, 203 for serious assaults, 380 for burglary and 166 for robbery.
Drug searches totalled 3,755 along with 279 theft-related searches and 304 firearms searches.
Garda figures show 163 firearms and 1,492 vehicles were seized.
Confident Operation Anvil will continue, the Garda Press Office said: “No budgetary issues arise at this time and no ‘end date’ has been determined.”
The operation encompasses two approaches - high visibility patrolling and checkpoint schedules by uniformed officers supported by plain clothes armed officers. The operation also has an “intelligence driven covert focus”, gardaí said.
“Public support and assistance has been an integral part of this operation,” said gardaí, renewing an appeal for information urging people to contact gardaí or to ring the confidential phoneline 1800-666111.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
