Gardai search Athlone properties as part of organised crime investigation

Gardai have announced details of a targeted search operation at properties in Westmeath, Roscommon, Offaly, and East Galway today (Wednesday), as part of an ongoing investigation into an organised crime group.

Searches were carried out this morning at six residential properties in Ballinasloe, county Galway; Taughmaconnell and Athlone, county Roscommon; Athlone, county Westmeath, and in Banagher and Cloghan, county Offaly.

Gardai said these searches were part of an investigation into "targeting the activities of an organised criminal group" which is operating in county Galway and neighbouring Garda divisions.

The organised crime group "is believed to be involved in serious criminality including possession and discharge of firearms, drug dealing, drug intimidation, burglaries and serious assaults in East Galway and neighbouring divisions," a Garda statement said.

As a result of this morning's operation, four men, three aged in their 20s and one in his 30s, were arrested and are currently being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at stations in the Garda North Western Region.

Two vehicles were also seized, along with phones and weapons including a machete, knives, cattle prod and a taser.

The operation involved Gardaí from Galway, Westmeath and Offaly divisions, supported by the Armed Support Unit from the North Western and Eastern Regions.