Four guns and €400k in drugs seized in Limerick organised crime raids

Limerick gardaí seized four firearms, ammunition and over €400,000 in drugs across two days of planned operations against local organised crime groups.

Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit strikes twice in 48 hours

Gardaí seized four firearms, bullets, more than €400,000 worth of suspected drugs, and over €9,000 in cash following a pair of planned operations against organised crime groups in Limerick, the Irish Times reports.

The operations, led by the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit (DDU) on Monday and Tuesday, targeted local criminal networks involved in the sale and supply of drugs across the city and wider region.

On Tuesday, gardaí raided a house in the city and recovered the four firearms along with suspected cannabis edibles valued at more than €127,000, suspected cocaine worth approximately €4,500, and a quantity of cash. A man in his 60s was arrested in connection with that seizure and remained in custody.

A separate seizure on Monday targeted a house at Stenson Park, Farranshone, on the outskirts of the city, where gardaí recovered approximately €275,000 worth of suspected cocaine and cash. A man in his 20s was being questioned in connection with that operation.

All drugs seized across both raids will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. The Limerick DDU was assisted by other regional and local Garda units during both search operations.

Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan said drugs — particularly cocaine and crack cocaine — had "engulfed communities across the city and county." He welcomed separate news that a former crack cocaine den in the St Mary's Park estate had been taken into ownership by Limerick City and County Council.

The local authority confirmed it had lodged plans to convert that property and two adjoining buildings, also acquired by the council, into a base for children's charity Barnardos.

Source: Irish Times