‘Military-style’ assault rifles and drugs valued at almost €775,000 seized
The seized rifles were described as ‘military style’ (Dublin Crime Response Team/PA)
Gardaí foiled gangland attacks after seizing two military-grade assault rifles and ammunition, and arrested two suspected gang members.
An AR-style rifle with a magazine and a Heckler & Koch rifle with a magazine were seized in the operation, which targeted a mid-tier organised crime group in north Dublin.
One of the men arrested, originally from Swords but now living in Finglas, is suspected of being the gang’s leading figure.
The Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT), a regional unit of the Dublin Metropolitan Region, carried out the operation on Wednesday.
It began with a search of a home in Oldtown, north Co Dublin, where gardaí seized the two rifles, 135 rounds of ammunition, and 39kg of cannabis herb.
A 51-year-old man was arrested and detained at Balbriggan Garda Station. Gardaí believe he was storing the weapons and drugs for the gang.
A follow-up search in Finglas led to the arrest of a 27-year-old man, regarded as the primary target of the operation and one of the gang’s leaders.
Investigators are now working to link him to the firearms and drugs.
A statement from Garda HQ said: “As part of an operation targeting an organised crime group involved in the sale and supply of controlled drugs, gardaí arrested two men and seized over €775,000 cannabis alongside two assault rifles in North County Dublin on Wednesday.”
The statement confirmed DCRT officers searched a private residence in Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) North, where they recovered 38.6kg of cannabis herb valued at €772,000 (subject to analysis), two rifles, and 135 rounds of ammunition.
A man arrested at the scene is detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.
“A follow-up search of a second premises in the DMR North resulted in the arrest of a second male and the seizure of a further €5,000 cannabis herb and a single round of ammunition,” it said, adding a male was arrested and detained under the same legislation.
Assistant Commissioner for the DMR, Paul Cleary, praised the operation, saying: “This operation by the Dublin Crime Response Team led to the seizure of two military-style assault rifles, ammunition, a significant quantity of drugs, and the arrests of two men for drugs and firearms offences.
“This is a major success for the DCRT and for public safety in Dublin. The sight of such assault rifles may cause concern but I want to reassure the public that this is not a routine occurrence and thanks to the vigilance of our Gardaí, these firearms were recovered from organised criminals.”
He added: “However, the presence of military-style assault rifles connected with a cannabis seizure is a reminder of the connection between the sale and supply of cannabis and potential organised crime groups.
“Let me be clear, we will maintain unrelenting pressure on the mid-level organised crime gangs who peddle drugs and violence in Dublin communities and I am committed to dismantling their networks and keeping the public safe.”
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