Seizure another blow to new Hyland drugs crew, gardaí claim

GARDAÍ believe they have dealt another major blow to the gang which has taken over from murdered boss Martin ‘Marlo’ Hyland.

Detectives from Finglas seized more than 100kg of cannabis in a search on a house in the north Dublin area on Thursday night.

The seizure is the latest in a series of damaging blows to the crew which has taken over operations from Hyland after two senior members of the gang decided to murder their boss.

Last Wednesday, gardaí arrested two more people in relation to the murder of Hyland and innocent bystander Anthony Campbell last December.

It followed the arrest a couple of weeks ago of two other people on suspicion of having information in connection with the shooting.

At around the same time, a garda team led by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) seized five firearms and a quantity of ammunition linked to the same gang.

Gardaí expect to make further arrests against members of the gang and hope to close in on the two lieutenants who carried out the double murder.

The cannabis haul on Thursday night, with an estimated street value of up to €750,000, is thought to be the second biggest seizure of cannabis so far this year.

“We’re satisfied this is a very significant seizure and we believe it to be part of the proceeds belonging to the crew that has taken over from Marlo Hyland,” said one source.

The operation was conducted by the detective unit at Finglas Garda Station after it received confidential information.

Gardaí have not arrested anyone yet in relation to the investigation, but are expected to make arrests. They suspect the person who owns the shipment is closely associated with the two men suspected of murdering Hyland and Mr Campbell.

Detectives believe other criminal gangs, from different parts of the city, may have invested in the shipment.

“We believe a number of people probably invested in this. I don’t think we’ve got the whole mother lode, but a significant part,” said one source.

“The investigation is ongoing and with a bit of luck we might find more.”

Gardaí have released the two men they arrested last Wednesday in connection with the double murder. The men, one aged in his early 20s and the other in his late 30s, are from nearby Ballymun, although they are living elsewhere.

They were detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act on suspicion on withholding information in relation to the possession of firearms used in the double murder.