Gardaí targeting feuding drugs gangs in Mayo and Galway have frozen almost €1 million in cash and cryptocurrency and seized high-value cars, cash, jewellery and electronic devices.
Eight homes were searched as part of the investigation which has been going on for over a year.
More than 20 people have been arrested or charged over the past 12 months in connection with organised crime activity.
The organised crime gangs in the west of Ireland have been involved in an ongoing feud for control of the lucrative drugs trade in the region for more than a year.
The gangs have been dealing mainly in cocaine and cannabis and have links to the transnational organised crime groups supplying the drugs.
There have been a number of related attacks on homes and cars, including petrol bombings in south Mayo and shootings at houses in Athenry and other towns in the region.
Gardaí carried out eight searches in north Galway and south Mayo which focused on the activities of a family-based travelling criminal gang involved in drugs, robbery and other criminal activity.
Officers from the Galway Divisional Crime and Drugs Units supported by national units including the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Armed Support and the Dog Unit carried out searches in Ballinrobe, Swinford, Tuam and Maigh Cuilinn.
A Volkswagen Tiguan SUV, an Audi car and a Ford Transit van as well as a large quantity of high-value goods including 12 designer watches, multiple electronic devices including laptops and mobile phones and €75,000 in cash were seized.
The home of one of the main targets of the operation, who works for the organised crime group, was also searched.
Two bank accounts with almost €1m, one in Ireland and the other abroad, were also frozen. One had over €530,000 worth of cryptocurrency, the other had €465,000 in cash.
Gardaí have said that no arrests were made as part of this phase of the operation, but so far more than 20 people have been arrested or charged as part of the investigation into organised crime activity in the west.
