14 arrested in Carlow, Meath, Offaly, Laois, Tipperary and Waterford
Fourteen people have been arrested as part of an investigation into organised criminal activity and drug trafficking in the South East.
The 12 men and two women were detained during searches at 27 locations, including homes and businesses, in Carlow, Meath, Offaly, Laois, Tipperary and Waterford this morning.
During one of the raids, a large consignment of contraband cigarettes was discovered.
The people in custody range in age from 18 to 54. They are being held at a number of Garda Stations in the South East under Section fifty of the Criminal Justice Act.
This operation was set up in the Carlow District in October 2010 to target organised criminal activity, drug trafficking and firearms possession in Co Carlow and throughout the South East.
There have been 18 seizures of controlled substances and cash during the ongoing operation.
The total value of drugs seized to date (subject to analysis) amounts to €4.4m and includes cannabis, cocaine and amphetamine.
