Issue Date: 12th April 2024
Gardaí from the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) South and DMR West Divisions conducted a Day of Action yesterday, Thursday 11th April 2024, targeting electric motorbikes suspected of being used in criminal activity.
In December 2023, Operation Meacan commenced in the DMR South and is led by the Divisional Serious Crime Unit with support from the Community Engagement Unit and Community Policing Unit based in Tallaght, and the Divisional Roads Policing Unit.
The aim of Operation Meacan is to tackle the use of electric motorbikes which are being used for criminal activity including drug dealing, money laundering, transporting firearms, Drug Related Intimidation (DRI) and other serious offences.
These electric motorbikes are often driven on footpaths, parks and laneways in order to avoid detection by An Garda Síochána.
During yesterday’s Day of Action, 19 search teams, comprising 120 members of An Garda Síochána, searched 40 properties.
Specialist units from An Garda Síochána assisted in the Day of Action including the Armed Support Unit, the National Dog Unit, the Dublin Crime Response Team and Special Tactics and Operational Command (STOC).
The following items were seized:
• 10 Surron electric motorbikes (with values ranging from €4,000 - €10,000)
• 12 motorbikes and scramblers
• 12 electric bicycles and e-scooters
• 3 quad bikes
• 1 jet-ski and trailer (valued at approximately €10,000)
• €42,950 in cash
• €8,000 worth of suspected cocaine and cannabis
• 5 designer watches (including 1 Tag Heuer and 4 Rolex watches)
• Designer goods valued at approximately €25,000
Two persons were also arrested during the course of the operation for the purpose of executing outstanding bench warrants.
Since the commencement of Operation Meacan in December 2023 a total of 53 electric motorbikes with a combined value of approximately €300,000 have been seized. Over €80,000 in cash which is understood to be the proceeds of criminal activity has also been seized by Gardaí.
Investigations are ongoing.
