Gardai have confirmed the amount of money seized in yesterday’s ‘Operation Platinum’ searches in Limerick was €250,000.
They are making 12 applications to Limerick District Court this afternoon to retain the money.
Up to 150 houses and premises in Limerick and several surrounding counties were searched yesterday as part of a major investigation into organised crime in the city.
The operation began at 6am and involved more than 250 uniformed officers and detectives from divisions in Limerick, Cork and Kerry as well as personnel from the Criminal Assets Bureau, the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the Garda National Drugs Units.
Three men, aged in their late 20s, were arrested during the operation and a substantial quantity of documentation and computer equipment was seized. The men have subsequently been released and files are due to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In addition, several drug seizures - mostly cocaine and ecstasy with a total potential street value of over €200,000 - were made. Two firearms, a quantity of ammunition and two vehicles were also seized during the searches.
The search of around 120 homes, 15 professional offices, seven business premises and a number of other properties also included several addresses in Dublin.