Part of the State's largest seizure of illegal fireworks was put on display at Garda Headquarters yesterday, after an operation in which four people were arrested. The haul, conservatively valued at £500,000, was discovered in a truck and two containers in the Finglas area of Dublin earlier this week. Polish cigarettes with a value of £100,000 were also seized.
About 20 Garda personnel were involved in the search, which was followed up later in north Co Dublin, where a further six pallets of fireworks were discovered. The four arrested were released after questioning. A file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The fireworks, mostly of Chinese origin, include some which were described as "very dangerous" by Det Garda John Higgins of the Garda Ballistics Unit.
All fireworks are illegal under the 1875 Explosives Act. The ban has been criticised by the Director of Consumer Affairs, Mr William Fagan, who said it encouraged the dumping of dangerous fireworks and discouraged the production and sale of safer alternatives.
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