As part of ongoing investigations into dissident republican activity Gardai have today carried out a search and arrest operation in Counties Louth, Waterford and Wexford and arrested nine males.
Gardaí from specialist units assisted by local gardaí from the South Eastern and Northern Regions were involved in the operation.
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Following the search of a house in Dunleer, Co Louth, two men (aged 20 and 33 years) were arrested and a firearm (believed ((subject to technical examination)) to be a handgun) and a quantity of ammunition were recovered.
Both men were detained under the provisions of Section 30 Offences Against the State Act 1939 as amended and are being detained in <_st13a_city><_st13a_place>Whitehall and Santry Garda stations.<_o3a_p>
Gardai also carried out a number of searches in <_st13a_city><_st13a_place>Waterford and Wexford and arrested 7 males (aged 19 to 71 years). All 7 are detained under the provisions of Section 30 Offences Against the State Act 1939 as amended.<_o3a_p>
One male (27 yrs) arrested in <_st13a_city>Waterford is detained in <_st13a_city><_st13a_place>Waterford. The other six males were arrested in Wexford. One male (27) is being detained in Wexford town Garda station, two males (aged 21 & 50 years) are detained in New Ross Garda Station, two males (aged 19 & 23 years) are detained in Thomastown Garda station and one male (71) is detained in Enniscorthy Garda Station.<_o3a_p>
During the course of one of the searches an area has been sealed off in Keelogue, Barntown, Co. Wexford and a number of items believed (subject to technical examination) to be the component parts of explosive devices have been recovered.<_o3a_p>
<_o3a_p> The operation and the investigation are ongoing.
Garda Press Office.
