50 Garda students take part in assets seizure swoop

More than 50 people were arrested yesterday in a day-long swoop by over 140 gardaí aimed at crimes such as drug-dealing, forgery and burglary.

The swoop was conducted as part of Operation Thor by gardaí from the Kilkenny-Carlow division, national garda units and 50 students from the Garda College and concentrated on the Thomastown area of Co Kilkenny and other parts of south Kilkenny and Carlow.

A number of drug seizures were made, including one of cannabis worth €5,000 in Paulstown; cannabis worth €2,000 in Glenmore, and a growhouse and €1,000 worth of cannabis in Tullow. Also seized were pepper spray and fireworks.

Gardaí charged 11 people in relation to a variety of offences and brought them before local courts throughout the day, while files are being prepared for the DPP in relation to seven more people. In all, 52 people were arrested during the operation, of which 30 were on foot of bench, penal and committal warrants.

There were also 78 checkpoints mounted throughout the area during the day as part of the operation which was aimed at preventing crime and disrupting criminal activity as well as increasing visibility of the garda presence in rural areas. The operation began shortly after 5am.

Chief Superintendent Dominic Hayes said: “The objective of today’s operation is to disrupt criminals living in and travelling through the Kilkenny-Carlow Division and deter criminal activity and promote community engagement. This operation will also assist in the detection of criminal offences through proactive policing activities.”

The operation was the ninth such day of garda activity in the Kilkenny-Carlow division. Earlier this month, 64 people were arrested across Co Kilkenny during a “day of action”.