Two men have gone on trial at the Circuit Criminal Court in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, charged with conspiracy to possess explosives, a firearm and ammunition.
They are also charged with possession of ammunition.
Thomas Bates, 51, with an address at Abbey Street, Cahir, Co Tipperary, and 34-year-old Nigel Gartland, of Knocklofty Heights, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, have both pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In an opening statement to the jury this afternoon, the court was told by prosecuting senior counsel Garnet Orange that a US law enforcement officer operating as, what was described as, the sheriff of portions of the darknet discovered that somebody in Ireland was trying to buy explosives, a firearm and ammunition and they established a line of communication using the darknet.
Mr Orange told the jury that through a series of exchanges a deal was done to ship three packages containing hand grenades, a Glock pistol and ammunition to an address in Co Tipperary, with payments secured through an escrow.
Mr Orange said everything bar spitting and shaking hands on the deal was done online.
He said the US law enforcement officer through his organisation made contact with the gardaí and a controlled delivery of the three packages was arranged.
It is the prosecution's case that Thomas Bates signed for and received those packages.
Later that day, Nigel Gartland came to the house where the packages were delivered.
A surveillance operation was in place in the area at the time and as the two men attempted to leave the house quickly via a laneway, gardaí intervened and arrested them.
The trial before Judge Thomas Teehan and a jury of seven men and five women is expected to last until the end of next week.
