Three arrested as 140 gardaí conduct raids on crime gang suspected of people smuggling and drug dealing

The early morning raids also involved specialist detectives from national garda units and saw two halting sites in north Dublin raided.

During the operation a number of people were arrested for immigration offences and are set to be deported while over €200,000 in bank accounts was frozen along with cash and drugs being seized.

Images of the operation show gardaí carrying out multiple searches at several properties earlier today.

The crime gang targeted during the raids are suspected of involvement in numerous different offences including people smuggling, drug dealing and money laundering.

During the operation, three people were arrested for immigration offences and are set to be deported back to the UK.

It’s understood one individual had entered Ireland illegally through the North while another had arrived here using false documents.

Another person was detained on foot of a deportation order and all are set to be returned to the UK.

Investigators have also frozen in excess of €200,000 held in bank accounts suspected of being linked to the criminal gang, while over €40,000 worth of assets have also been seized.

This includes designer goods including clothes and handbags while a Rolex watch was also discovered.

It’s understood that over €30,000 in cash was recovered along with a quantity of cannabis with an estimated street value of €15,000.

In total, around 140 gardaí attached to local and divisional units as well as garda national units were involved in the operation.

This included the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Protective Services Bureau, and the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

One source said: “These specialist units were involved because of the wide range of offending this crime group as suspected to be involved in.

“Today’s operation is the culmination of detailed investigations and intelligence gathering by local gardaí.

“This gang are suspected of running a significant criminal operation connected to various different offences for financial gain”.

Detectives suspect the crime group targeted today are involved in people smuggling, drug dealing, illegal dumping and money laundering.

They have also come under investigation for alleged links to the prostitution trade involving foreign nationals.

Also involved in this morning’s operation were the public order unit, dog unit as well as financial asset investigators.

It’s understood that investigations relating to today’s searches are continuing.