Garda operation results in 11 arrests

GARDAÍ conducted a massive search and arrest operation yesterday against an organised crime network involved in wholesale drug trafficking.

More than 150 gardaí were involved in Operation Venus, a nine-month-long investigation targeting a notorious gang based in Dublin’s north inner city.

Eleven people were arrested. Six, including one of the senior leaders, were arrested under anti-gang legislation introduced four years ago. The eight men and three women were picked up in searches on 18 homes and two businesses.

Gardaí also conducted searches in seven cells in Mountjoy, Wheatfield, Midlands and Portlaoise prisons, including in the cell of the suspected gang boss.

During the searches gardaí seized a quantity of ammunition, drugs, cash, drug distribution paraphernalia, documents associated with drug trafficking, mobile phones, computers and documents associated with financial transactions.

In addition to the six people arrested under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, three people are being detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act and one under the Drug Trafficking Act. A woman was taken to Dochas Prison after it was discovered a warrant had been issued for her detention.