FOUR men remained in Garda custody in Limerick this Wednesday morning after Gardaí discovered guns, a viable pipe bomb, drugs, and cash in an operation targeting the activities of organised crime in the Treaty City on Tuesday evening.
It follows Garda investigations into several shootings and a pipe bomb explosion earlier this year involving rival groups involved in a feud on the city’s south side.
A Garda spokesman said that a planned Garda operation on Tuesday involving officers “attached to Limerick Crime Functional Area” supported by members of the Defence Forces “targeting organised criminal activity in County Limerick” led to “a number of searches conducted at locations in Limerick, Cork, and Clare”.
“During the course of these searches, cash in excess of €11,310 was seized as well as approximately €53,100 suspected cocaine, €20,000 suspected cannabis, and €4,650 suspected alprazolam and controlled medication tablets.
“Four suspected firearms and ammunition have also been seized.
“All evidence seized will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for further examination.”
The Garda spokesman added: “During the search of a field in the Limerick area, the assistance of the Army EOD Unit was requested to make safe a suspicious device.”
“A controlled explosion was carried out and, on examination, this device was found to have been a viable explosive.”
“Five men were arrested during the course of this operation for offences under provisions of the Criminal Law Act, 1997, and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007 at Garda Stations in the Limerick Region.”
Four of the men remain in custody while the fifth male was “released from detention and charged with separate road traffic offences”.
This man was due to appear before Limerick District Court this morning.
Gardaí said that three women were also arrested and charged on Tuesday “for offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994”.
