Gadai seize drugs, cash and suspected pipe bomb in city sting

Seven people including six men and one woman were arrested as part of Operation Feabhsaigh under the direction of Superintendent Andrew Lacey, Henry Street Garda Station.

Meanwhile Revenue officers have seized cannabis at Shannon airport with an estimated street value of €15,000.

One of the seven arrested, a man, was being questioned by Gardai in respect of the bomb find.

This man was being detained at an undisclosed Garda station in the Limerick area under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, 1939, which means he can be held initially for up to 24 hours and possibly a further additional period.

Early this morning a convoy of Garda vehicles with 80 gardai travelled into the St Mary’s Park and Kings Island areas and swooped on a number of addresses.

Gardai were asked for an estimated value and quantity of the cash and drugs seized but did not disclose the amount or value of what was seized.

“Today’s operation aimed at targeting the sale and supply of illegal drugs and related criminal activity in Limerick City was coordinated by 80 local members of An Garda Síochána with assistance from the Garda Armed Support Unit (ASU) and the Garda Dog Unit,” a Garda spokesman said.

“Seven search warrants were executed, during the course of the searches in the St Mary’s Park and Kings Island areas, a suspected pipe bomb was seized at a residential property.”

Members of a Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was requested to attend the scene where the suspected bomb was found, which was later declared safe.

“Quantities of suspected illegal drugs, cash and watches were also seized. All drugs seized are now subject to examination by Forensic Science Ireland (FSI),” said the Garda spokesman.

“Six more arrests (5 males, 1 female) were made under suspicion of alleged incidents of theft, robbery and drug driving.”

“One of these men has since appeared before the Courts, one man remains in Garda custody. The female and three other males have since been released from custody.”Gardai said their investigations were “ongoing”.

Operation Feabhsaigh was established in September 2023 under two key priorities – Enforcement and Crime Prevention in Limerick’s Kings Island historic quarter, as well as the sale and supply of drugs/open drug Use/chronic anti-social behaviour/aggressive begging and general crime.

The Operation is also committed to having a visible beat presence during the Limerick Regeneration Demolition Project, Gardai said.

Meanwhile, Revenue officers examining parcels at a premises in Dublin seized 9.3 kgs of herbal cannabis, 72.7 grammes of cannabis resin, 1.8 kgs of cannabis edibles and 5.1 kg of mitragynine, with a combined estimated value of over €319,000.

Revenue officers examining parcels at a premises in Athlone seized 254.8 grammes of synthetic cannabinoids with an estimated value of €5,100.

The illicit drugs were discovered inside consignments declared as various items such as bath towels, pillows, clothing and food, and were discovered in parcels originating from the Netherlands, Spain, USA, Thailand and Indonesia, and were destined for addresses in Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Limerick and Wexford.

Investigations into all of these seizures are ongoing.

These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting organised crime groups and the importation, sale and supply of illegal drugs. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295 295.