Crime ‘nobody’ arrested after two cartel machine guns seized in raid
A 48-year-old man, considered a “nobody” in terms of organised crime, remained in garda custody last night, being questioned about the seizure of two machine guns.
The suspect was arrested in the Matt Talbot Court area of the north inner city on Thursday night as part of a massive ongoing investigation into the Kinahan cartel.
Deadly
It is understood the deadly weapons were found by detectives in a lock-up linked to the suspect, who was brought to Mountjoy Garda Station for questioning.
“This individual is typical of the type of person that the Kinahan cartel are using to store guns and drugs for them,” a source told the Herald.
“He is absolutely not on the garda radar and only came to attention before for minor public order and driving matters.
“However, he is suspected of being in control of highly sophisticated weapons which would do major damage to anyone unfortunate enough to be targeted by the guns.
“This man, who is from the north inner city, was arrested as part of a lengthy surveillance operation targeting the cartel and he seems to be used for this job because he was not known to gardai.
“The belief is these weapons were to be used in the ongoing Hutch/Kinahan feud, which has claimed 18 lives.”
Gardai yesterday announced details of their latest successful operation against the cartel.
“In the course of investigations being undertaken relating to organised and serious crime, personnel attached to the garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau searched a premises located in Dublin’s north inner city,” a spokesman said.
“In the course of this search, two firearms, believed to be machine guns, and a quantity of ammunition were located and seized.
“One man, aged 48, was arrested in the course of this investigation. He was conveyed to Mountjoy Garda Station, where he remains detained,” he added.
Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll, who heads Organised and Serious Crime, said: “An Garda Siochana, through Organised and Serious Crime and the garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau in particular, continues in its unrelenting determination to take lethal firearms off the streets of Ireland in its ongoing efforts to keep people safe”.
Gardaí have arrested a man as a result of their ongoing investigation following the seizure of drugs with an estimated street value of €2.5m yesterday.
Acting on intelligence, gardaí carried out a search of a residence in the Kingswood area of Dublin 22.
During the search gardaí discovered an assortment of drugs including:
- 4 kilos of vacuum packed cannabis with an estimated value of €680,000,
- MDMA with an estimated value of €40,860,
- pink Upjohn tablets valued at €22,146,
- blue ecstasy tablets valued at €176,190,
- pink powder for Upjohn tablets valued at €168,000,
- white ecstasy tablets valued at €66,240,
- ketamine valued at €60,000,
- Xanax tablets valued at €81,700
- and further ecstasy valued at €1,187,500.
Also seized was suspected drugs paraphernalia including a drugs press, mixing machine, weighing scales and storage material were also recovered.
This afternoon, gardaí arrested a man aged in his 20s in connection with their investigations.
He is currently being detained at Ronanstown Garda Station.