Two men have been arrested following the recovery of a firearm which led gardai to believe a ‘threat to life’ was imminent.
The recovery operation took place in West Dublin shortly after 8pm on Tuesday and saw a vehicle intercepted by a tactical team from the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) on Rowlagh Avenue in Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
A quick search of the vehicle saw Gardai recover a semi-automatic Glock pistol along with a number of rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Following the discovery, two males aged in their 30s and 40s, were arrested at the scene.
The pair are currently detained at a garda station in the Dublin metropolitan region.
Following the arrest, searches were conducted at 18 locations in the Dublin area and two cells at Portlaoise Prison. This was thanks to the assistance of the Irish Prison Service and Operational Support Units of An Garda Síochána.
A statement from a garda spokesperson regarding the incident reads; ‘An Garda Síochána are satisfied that an imminent threat to life attack was prevented in West Dublin on Tuesday evening, 17th December 2024.
‘Gardaí from the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), units attached to the Garda National Crime & Security Intelligence Service (GNCSIS) and regular unit members from the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) conducted an operation as part of an intelligence-led investigation in the DMR.
‘Shortly after 8:00pm on the 17th December 2024, a vehicle was intercepted by a tactical team from the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) on Rowlagh Avenue in Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
‘A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a semi-automatic Glock pistol along with a number of rounds of 9mm ammunition.
‘Two males, aged in their 30s & 40s, were arrested at the scene pursuant to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 and are currently detained at a Garda station in the DMR under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.
‘Follow-up searches were conducted at 18 locations in the Dublin area and two cells at Portlaoise Prison, with the assistance of the Irish Prison Service and Operational Support Units of An Garda Síochána. In excess of 300 members of An Garda Síochána were deployed in the course of the operation.’
Speaking following the operation, Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis, head of Organised & Serious Crime stated; ‘The intervention by members of An Garda Síochána in West Dublin on the evening of 17th December 2024 has again resulted in the removal of a lethal firearm and ammunition from circulation.
‘An Garda Síochána believes the firearm was intended for use in the commission of murder(s). I wish to acknowledge the members of An Garda Síochána involved in the operation for their professionalism in bringing this operation to a successful conclusion. An Garda Síochána will continue to prioritise targeting those that are the most violent and cause the most harm in communities.’
‘The firearm and ammunition seized will be forwarded to the Ballistics section of the Garda Technical Bureau to undergo analysis.
‘Investigations are ongoing.’
