Gardaí seize bullets and drugs in raid

A HUGE quantity of heroin and cocaine destined for sale during St Patrick's Day celebrations in Limerick was seized yesterday in a major garda operation.

The drugs have an estimated street value of more than €200,000.

More than 60 gardaí staged a search operation in the Galvone and Clonlong areas adjacent to Southill at around 6.30am.

They were backed up by the divisional search unit, a dog unit and armed members of the Roxboro Road crime office. The operation was headed by Supt Frank O'Brien, Insp Jim Ryan and Det Sgt Tom O'Connor.

The drugs were found in two separate batches in a disused factory in the Galvone industrial estate.

More than 50 bullets for semi-automatic guns were also found.

The searches continued until noon, when areas near Clonlong were inspected.

Det Sgt O'Connor said: "We believe these drugs were brought in for sale around St Patrick's Day.

"We suspect that a drugs gang based in the Southill area had brought the drugs into Limerick in recent days. This find is a major blow to this gang. We are delighted at the success of this operation."

Gardaí also searched fields and open ground in the general area.

The drugs and ammunition have been sent to Dublin for forensic examination. Gardaí are confident that yesterday's operation will led to arrests.

It is believed that the drugs gang consists of members of one extended family who are involved in major crime in the south-side of Limerick.

Some gang members have been questioned about recent shootings in the Southill area and are described as highly dangerous.