The six people arrested by Gardaí for questioning about the importation of guns and ammunition through the post are still in custody at Garda stations in Trim, Kells and Navan. The six, all men, are being detained under the Offences against the State Act; the can be detained for 48 hours before they must be released or charged. The men were arrested in early morning raids; four of which were at Trim and Enfield in County Meath, one in Mullingar and one in Baileboro in County Cavan.
It is believed that members of the Provisional IRA were behind the gun-running, which came to light when a number of guns addressed to people in Ireland were intercepted at Coventry Airport in July. A number of guns and a quantity of ammunition were subsequently found here, some in Galway, others in parcels at the SDA depot on the Naas road in Dublin. An extensive investigation by Gardaí from the Louth-Meath division and the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation has been on-going since the gun-running operation was uncovered.
