On Thursday, gardaí worked with the PSNI to conduct a major multi-agency checkpoint on the N1/M1 in Dundalk, Co Louth.
This checkpoint involved the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) carrying out immigration checks on 10 buses, leading to two people being refused Leave to Land.
Gardaí said the two people will be deported from the country on Thursday night.
The policing operation, with a focus on rural crime and human trafficking, was aimed at preventing and detecting criminality along the border and at preventing and disrupting the free movement of criminals based in the Republic and Northern Ireland.
Alongside the immigration checks, there were four detections for drug driving (tested positive for cocaine and cannabis) and other vehicles were seized for having no tax or insurance and other Road Traffic Offences detected
The Department of Social Protection identified 16 people for whom they wish to carry out further enquiries, and Revenue Customs detected Marked Gas Oil being unlawfully used in six vehicles, one of which was seized.
The operation was led by gardaí from the Louth/Cavan/Monaghan Division, assisted by the Garda Air Support Unit, Armed Support Unit, Garda National Immigration Bureau, and the Garda Human Trafficking Investigation Unit, alongside officials from Customs and the Department of Social Protection.
The Garda operation also served as a Mandatory Intoxicating Testing (MIT) checkpoint and focussed on providing a high-visibility policing presence to help reduce road deaths.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland implemented a full traffic management plan to divert all traffic over a period of four hours off the N1 southbound at Junction 18 and onto a slip road where the checkpoint was in place.
Sgt Declan Higgins of the Louth Roads Policing Unit said: "Under the JATF, we work closely with the PSNI and they have a similar checkpoint operation North of the border. What we’re trying to do is prevent criminals from using our road network.
"The checkpoint is also part of the road safety initiative of An Garda Síochána, we’re targeting drink and drug drivers and also people driving without insurance."
Chief Inspector Adam Corner of the PSNI said: "We are proud to be involved in this JATF operation with our colleagues in An Garda Síochána. We are utilising a number of PSNI resources in order to control the strategic road network to deny criminals the use of the road.
"Criminals are looking to exploit our border region and border communities and it’s through working with An Garda Síochána, sharing information, we will relentlessly pursue those looking to cause misery and those who look to commit crime in the border area.”
