The two assault rifles and 135 rounds of ammunition were seized in a container in a van at a premises in north county Dublin during an operation targeting an organised crime group involved in the drugs trade
13:37, 27 Aug 2025Updated 15:58, 27 Aug 2025
Gardaí seized two ‘military-style assault rifles'(Image: Gardaí )
An unemployed landscaper is one of two men who remains in custody being quizzed over the seizure of €775,000 cannabis and two assault rifles in north county Dublin, The Irish Mirror can reveal.
The two assault rifles and 135 rounds of ammunition were seized in a container in a van at a premises at Oldtown in north county Dublin during an operation targeting an organised crime group involved in the drugs trade.
Cannabis worth over €775,000 was also recovered during searches of sheds in north Co Dublin on Tuesday, August 26.
Two men, aged in their 20s and 50s, were arrested. The male in his 50s is an unemployed landscaper.
The operation was carried out by An Garda Síochána’s Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT).
Gardaí seized cannabis and weapons (Image: Gardaí )
Assistant Commissioner for the Dublin Metropolitan Region Paul Cleary said that “two military-style assault rifles” were seized.
In a statement, he described the outcome of the searches as “a major success for the DCRT and for public safety in Dublin”.
“The sight of such assault rifles may cause concern but I want to reassure the public that this is not a routine occurrence and thanks to the vigilance of our gardaí, these firearms were recovered from organised criminals.
Assistant Commissioner, Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR), Paul Cleary(Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
“However, the presence of military-style assault rifles connected with a cannabis seizure is a reminder of the connection between the sale and supply of cannabis and potential organised crime groups.
“Let me be clear, we will maintain unrelenting pressure on the mid-level organised crime gangs who peddle drugs and violence in Dublin communities and I am committed to dismantling their networks and keeping the public safe,” AC Cleary said.
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In a statement, An Garda Siochana said: “As part of an operation targeting an organised crime group involved in the sale and supply of controlled drugs, Gardaí arrested two men and seized over €775,000 cannabis alongside two assault rifles in North County Dublin on Tuesday, 26th August 2025.
“The operation was carried out by the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT) who searched a private residence in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) North.
“This search resulted in the recovery of 38.6kg of cannabis herb, valued at approximately €772,000 (subject to analysis), and 2 assault rifles. In addition, 135 rounds of ammunition were also recovered and seized.
“A man, aged in his 50s, was arrested at the scene and is currently detained at a Garda station in the DMR under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.
“A follow-up search of a second premises in the DMR North resulted in the arrest of a second male and the seizure of a further €5,000 cannabis herb and a single round of ammunition. The male, aged in his 20s, is also currently detained at a Garda station in the DMR under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.”
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