Breaking two arrested after drugs and firearms seized

Two people have been arrested in Athlone this afternoon after Gardai seized drugs and firearms following searches on two houses.

As part of a Garda operation two houses on the westside of Athlone were searched today.

In the first house a small quantity of drugs was found, while in the second house Garda seized a quantity of cannabis resin with an estimated street value of €10,000, associated paraphernalia and two illegal firearms.

A man in his 20s and a woman in her late teens have been arrested as a result and are currently detained for questioning at Athlone Garda Station under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. They can be held for a period of 24 hours.

The Garda Press Office issued a statement this afternoon (Wednesday): 'On the morning of 15.4.15, Gardai in Athlone conducted an operation to combat the sale and supply of controlled drugs in the Athlone area. The operation involved the search of two houses in Goldsmith View, Athlone town. During the course of the searches gardai recovered a quantity of what is believed to be cannabis herb and cannabis resin with a street value of up to €10,000 (pending analysis) along with additional drug paraphernalia.'

'Two firearms (pending technical examination) were also recovered in this search. Arising out of the search a male and a female were arrested. The male is aged 24 and the female is aged 18. Both are currently detained at Athlone Garda Station under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act 1939 as amended and can be detained for an initial period up to 24 hours,' added the statement.