Dublin raids: 11 in custody as operation continues

Nine men and two women have been arrested after a massive Garda blitz on organised crime gangs.

Eighteen homes and two businesses across north inner city Dublin were raided this morning with officers recovering bullets, cash, a small amount of cannabis and material and documents linked to drug trafficking and financial deals.

Several vehicles were also searched as mobile phones and computers were seized by elite Garda units following months of investigation.

Five men and one woman were detained under tough anti-gang legislation, section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, another two men and one woman were held under anti-terror laws, section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, while one man was held on suspicion of drugs offences.

The gangs are suspected of running organised crime rackets and drug trafficking empires across the north of the capital.

The suspects range in age from their 20s to their 50s.

One of the women was brought to Dóchas women’s prison in Mountjoy after it was discovered a warrant had been issued for her detention.

More than 100 Garda officers were involved in the operation including teams from the Organised Crime division, Emergency Response Unit, dog handlers and the Garda helicopter.

Bank statements and other documents associated with financial transactions were recovered in some of the raids along with bags and other paraphernalia used by drug dealers for distribution.

The raids were the culmination of months of investigation by detectives and anti-gangland units based at Mountjoy Garda Station.

Gardaí said the search and arrest operation was managed from divisional headquarters at Store Street Garda Station and conducted by local armed and plainclothes units from Mountjoy, Store Street and Bridewell stations.