Two men due in Cork court in connection with international human trafficking operation

The two men, aged in their 30s and 40s, were arrested by gardaí last Saturday

Two men are to appear before Midleton District Court on Thursday morning.

Two men are due to appear in court in Cork on Thursday morning charged in connection with an international human trafficking operation.

The men, aged in their 30s and 40s, were arrested by gardaí last Saturday.

They are to appear before Midleton District Court later on Thursday morning.

A third man, also in his 30s, has been released without charge. A file will now be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Garda operation in Cork and Roscommon

The men were arrested during a major garda operation in Cork and Roscommon involving over 100 officers.

The operation was led by specialist officers in Cork, assisted by divisional colleagues, as well as officers from six national units, including human trafficking, economic crime and cybercrime bureaus.

The organised crime group targeted has connections in eastern Europe, and gardaí were assisted by the EU police agency, Europol.

Detectives hit a total of seven locations in Cork and Roscommon, and seized evidence which is being examined in detail.

'Items of evidential value' seized

An earlier garda statement said: “Gardaí in Cork County have this morning arrested three males for organised crime related offences. 

"The males (in their 30s and 40s) are currently detained in Garda Stations in Cork under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.” 

It said “items of evidential value” — including, it is thought, digital devices and mobile phones — were seized during the courses of the searches.