Gardaí investigating the abduction of the Richardson family in Raheny, Dublin, last month and the subsequent robbery of €2.4 million from a Securicor van believe they are close to charging the main figures behind the operation.
The focus of the investigating team is now on about seven criminals all from the north side of Dublin. DNA samples have been taken from some of these men and are being cross-checked against samples gathered by officers during examination of locations and items used during the abduction and robbery on March 13th and 14th.
The central figures were among 24 people who were arrested for questioning last week and held for up to 72 hours. They have all been released but further arrests and criminal charges are expected shortly. One of the 24 has been charged with firearms offences.
Most of those arrested were detained during dawn raids last Wednesday all over Dublin and in Ashbourne, Co Meath. Almost 300 officers were involved.
Gardaí found almost €200,000 in cash when they raided over 60 premises. At least four firearms were also seized along with about €750,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis. They also took possession of five vehicles which they believe were bought with the proceeds of the robbery. The cash recovered is also believed to have been part of the haul.
Officers are confident that the intelligence gathered during last week's arrests, particularly from people on the periphery of the crime, will prove invaluable. Significant intelligence was also gathered by gardaí in the fortnight before last week's arrests.
During the robbery last month Securicor staff member Paul Richardson and his family were held at their Raheny home by the gang, who then took Mrs Richardson and her two teenage sons to a wood in Wicklow.
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