Gardaí arrest nine in organised crime swoop

An organised gang involved in gun crime, drug running and extortion rackets in the west of Ireland was smashed after nine men were arrested in 20 raids today.

Gardaí searched homes and businesses, seizing four cars, mobile phones, computers and documents in Co Galway.

Operation Foolscap targeted a gang suspected of intimidation, burglaries, robberies and drugs and firearms offences across the west.

The arrested men were aged from their early 20s to their early 30s.

The suspected gang members were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act at Galway, Gort, Loughrey, Tuam and Ballinasloe Garda Stations.

The Garda press office said officers from Galway were supported by the Criminal Assets Bureau, the fraud squad, the Organised Crime Unit and national and regional response units.