A major Garda operation in north Dublin, during which more than 150 members arrived at search sites in large convoys, targeted a well-known gang leader and two other groups linked to nationwide crime for decades.
The main target, a man in his 40s with more than 100 previous criminal convictions, has a propensity for violence and, as a result, the force’s Armed Support Unit and Public Order Unit were involved in Tuesday’s operation.
Video footage, which appeared to be recorded from a crane on a construction site, showed dozens of Garda vans and other vehicles driving in convoy towards the 39 addresses searched under warrant in the pre-planned operation.
The main sites searched were located in Coolock and Raheny, with three arrests made and cannabis valued at €160,000 and cocaine worth €22,000 were discovered. Designer watches and clothing, valued at approximately €161,000, along with power tools valued at €30,000, three vehicles and an assortment of weapons were also seized.
“During the course of the operation, Garda members attached to the Social Welfare Investigation Unit have identified significant and numerous suspected fraudulent claims which will be subject to further assessment,” the Garda said.
The main focus of the searches was to find evidence – including drugs, stolen property and phones and other devices for analysis – as part of the long-term process of building criminal cases.
Some of those targeted are suspected prolific burglars who travel to the regions to execute well-organised burglaries that often feature a degree of surveillance in the build-up.
The operation, which was pre-planned but caught the targets by surprise, involved more than 150 gardaí based in north Dublin as well as the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the force’s serious crimes squad.
