Machine guns and drugs seized in Laois and Kildare
Some of the firearms that were seized in Laois and Kildare this weekend. Photo: An Garda Síochána
MACHINE guns, pistols and drugs worth over €700,000 were seized in Laois and Kildare this weekend.
The raids were part of an ongoing investigation into organised crime in both counties, under Operation Tara.
Gardaí said this afternoon that an armed operation, targeting a number of individuals and locations in the Laois and Kildare areas, was put in place over the weekend of 10 – 12 July.
Searches were carried out at six locations in Laois and Kildare, leading to the seizure of 11 military grade firearms made up of three machine guns and eight pistols.
Ammunition and silencers were also seized, together with heroin, cocaine and cannabis with an estimated street value of more than €700,000.
Two men, both aged in their 40s, were arrested and are currently detained for questioning at stations in the midlands, under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice 2007.
The operation involved personnel attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), supported by personnel from the Garda Eastern Region, the Dublin Crime Response Team and the Emergency Response Unit.
The firearms will be forwarded for technical examination by the Ballistics Section of the Garda Technical Bureau.
The seized drugs will be forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis.
Gardaí said that investigations are ongoing following the raids.
Assistant Garda Commissioner Angela Willis, head of Organised and Serious Crime, said: “The recovery of military-grade firearms, handguns and substantial quantities of illicit drugs has removed highly dangerous weapons and harmful substances from circulation, reducing the threat posed to the public and preventing significant criminal profits from being generated.”
Describing the Laois-Kildare raids as “a significant disruption of organised criminal activity”, she added: "This seizure is the culmination of significant activity conducted under Operation Tara in the week commencing Monday 6 July involving the GNDOCB, Customs Revenue Service, the Dublin Crime Response Team, Divisional Drug Units from Cork, Mayo, Longford, Roscommon and Kildare and supported by Emergency Response Unit, Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit, the Ballistics Section and FSI.
"In the past week 11 persons have been arrested for various offences under organised crime, firearms and drug trafficking legislation in operations carried out by An Garda Síochána. Over €9 million worth of controlled drugs including, heroin, cocaine and cannabis has been seized, along with cannabis oil infused vapes and jellies aimed at our young people.
"This operation highlights the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and the strong collaboration between An Garda Síochána and our national and international law enforcement partners. Organised crime groups operate across borders and exploit international supply chains, making cooperation and information sharing essential to our response.”
