AN INVESTIGATION led by the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) targeting gangland criminals in Limerick has prompted Garda searches in four counties.
Twelve searches were conducted in Dublin, Tipperary, Offaly and Kerry as part of the operation.
Gardaí from several units across the State entered a number of homes, commercial premises and offices during the raids, which took place on Wednesday.
Some €38,000 in cash was seized, along with a large amount of documentary evidence and computers.
No arrests were made and investigations are ongoing, according to a Garda spokesman, who said the operation was “targeting individuals involved in the Limerick gang feuds”.
The operation was conducted by members of Cab; detective gardaí from Birr, Roscrea, Nenagh and Tipperary town Garda stations; the regional support unit based in Mullingar Garda station; the Garda dog unit; and members of the divisional crime taskforce DMR West.
Chairman of Limerick city’s joint policing committee Cllr Michael Hourigan said he hoped convictions would follow.
“The only way we can solve the criminality in our society is to bring these people to court.
“Gardaí have seized cash and documents which can be used in the course of convicting these criminals,” he said.
“This activity of the gardaí is a very welcome warning to people who might be considering getting involved in gang feuds or gang-related crime.”
The biggest Cab-led operation in Limerick took place in May 2008 when 150 properties were searched as part of Operation Platinum.
A large amount of documentation, including bank details, credit union books and computer hardware, was recovered during the searches, along with almost €100,000 cash in euro and sterling.
A car with false number plates and a motorbike were also seized.
The raids were the culmination of months of work initiated by the two Cab profilers based in Limerick who are involved in the ongoing profiling of various criminal gangs operating in the city.