Drugs, cash, jewellery and designer goods worth more than €1.7 million have been seized by gardaí during a two-day operation in parts of Dublin, Wicklow and Meath this week.
Twenty-seven properties, including lands and buildings in Blessington, Co Wicklow, and residential properties in Tallaght in Dublin and Ashbourne in Co Meath, were searched as part of the operation targeting drug trafficking, money laundering and the activities of organised crime groups.
The sophisticated and industrial nature of organised crime and the extent criminal gangs go to move their drugs is illustrated by the remote controlled devices and linear actuators that were seized.
A 'cocaine press', remote control devices and linear actuators, believed to be used to build concealed "hides" in vehicles to transport drugs, were discovered during the search of a property in Blessington. Two van with built-in "hides" were seized.
Another van with two wheel balancing machines equipped with remote-controlled hydraulic covers, was seized during a search in Tallaght.
A search was also carried on Wednesday evening at a property in Ashbourne, where cocaine worth €1,190,000 was seized along with cannabis herb worth €280,000 and €12,000 in cash.
Cocaine and cash were also discovered a property in Tallaght.
During the course of the two-day operation, gardaí seized cocaine worth a total of €1,330,000, diamorphine (heroin) worth €63,000, cannabis valued at €288,500, euro and sterling to the value of €89,500; jewellery, including designer brand watches, designer bags and clothing and three vans.
No arrests were made and investigations are ongoing.
Gardaí say these seizures are the result of an operation targeting organised crime groups in Dublin and Wicklow involved in drugs trafficking on an industrial scale.
Not only are they dealing in large quantities of cocaine, cannabis and heroin, they are also building and supplying the heavy machinery and expertise necessary to conceal and transport these drugs to minimise the risk of getting caught
The operation was coordinated by DMR South Crime and led by the Terenure Drugs Unit, with support from DMR South Serious Crime, Sundrive Road and Tallaght Drugs Units, Community Engagement Units, Divisional Roads Policing Unit, ASU DMR and Eastern Region, the Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit and the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
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