A male and a female were arrested at 8am this morning.
As part of our ongoing investigation into organised crime, today The Criminal Assets Bureau assisted by local Gardai from the Limerick and Clare area and local CAB profilers conducted six searches. Two of theses searches were at professional offices in Limerick and four were at houses in Ennis (2) and Limerick(2).
In the course of one of the searches a handgun (subject to technical examination) was recovered.
A male (late 30s) and a female (20s) were arrested at 8am this morning, the 28th July 2009. Both are currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act in Ennis Garda Station.
Gardaí also seized documentation in the course of these searches.
These searches are part of our ongoing investigation into organised crime in the general Limerick area, under "Operation Platinum".
Please see original press release regarding Operation Platinum below.
Garda Press Office
28th July 2009, 14.35hrs
Garda – “Operation Platinum” - operation against organised crime in Limerick
An Garda Siochana continue to undertake a range of investigations and operations to curb organised criminal activity in the general Limerick area. Over the last number of months a specific operation targeting this activity has been ongoing led by local Detective Units in conjunction with locally based Divisional Asset Profilers and the Criminal Assets Bureau.
Today, some 150 premises were searched within the latest phase of this investigation. Properties, primarily in the Limerick area, but also in the surrounding counties and in Dublin, were searched in an operation which commenced at 6a.m. this morning and involved some 250+ Gardai.
The operation was led by Chief Superintendent Willie Keane, Limerick Division and D/Chief Superintendent J. O’Mahoney, Criminal Assets Bureau and involved officers from a range of Garda units including – uniform & detective units from the divisions of Limerick, Cork & Kerry; officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau; the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation; Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation; Garda National Drugs Units.
Additional specialist support was provided by the Emergency Response Unit; the Organised Crime Unit; the Computer Crime Investigation Unit, Garda Technical Bureau, Garda Dog Unit and Garda Air Support Unit.
The breakdown of premises searched include (approx) 120 private residences, 15 professional offices, 7 business premises and a number of other properties.
During the course of these searches a substantial quantity of documentation was seized which is currently being examined, along with a range of computer equipment. Also seized were two vehicles (a car and a motorcycle); cash (euro and sterling) to a value in excess of €100,000; various drug seizures (one significant) primarily cocaine and ecstasy with a potential street value of in excess of €200,000; two firearms and a quantity of ammunition.
Three men, aged in their late 20’s were arrested during the course of the operation and are currently detained at Garda Stations in Limerick City.
Please be advised that this operation is very much live and ongoing and you will be advised of further developments as appropriate.
Garda Press Office.
12.15 Hrs 8th May, 2008.
