Garda swoops on organised crime gang

Gardaí have raided 42 properties in the southeast of the country in a special operation targeting organised crime.

“Operation Munster” targeted a specific organised crime gang engaged in criminal activities – particularly burglaries - in counties Tipperary, Kilkenny and Waterford.

Gardaí from these counties were supported by the Regional Support Unit with the assistance of officers from Revenue’s customs and excise.

During the operation, 42 residential premises were searched and an amount of property was seized. The property included jewellery and electronic equipment.

Eight men and four women of varying ages were arrested. All are being detained tonight at various Garda stations in the southeast, apart from one of the men and one of the women who were released, while another man and woman were sent to prison after being arrested on warrant.

As part of the lead up to yesterday’s operation, a number of the gang members had their bank accounts frozen. The gang is suspected to be responsible for a large amount of burglaries. During these burglaries, a number of legally held firearms, and quantities of jewellery, cash, electronic goods and other valuable items were stolen.

As part of this investigation, gardaí have recovered eight shotguns in recent weeks in the Clonmel area.