A multinational investigation with Europol has taken down a criminal communication platform which had been operating here.
Five people remain in custody and 15.6 million euro worth of drugs have been seized over the course of the operation.
A collaboration with An Garda Siochana, along with authorities in nine other countries, has resulted in a total of 51 arrests worldwide part of the encrypted drug trafficking network platform.
Europol said the network was used for large-scale drugs trafficking, homicides and money laundering.
It described the international police operation as “sophisticated” and “a major action against an encrypted communication platform used for criminal activities“.
27 premises in Dublin and the Eastern region were searched in a day of action yesterday involving 300 gardai.
Representatives from Europol, Australian Federal Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation were also in Ireland to support the operation.
Cash, devices, rolex watches and a range rover were seized.
Gardaí said that an estimated €7 million worth of cocaine has already been seized in Co Wexford and over €300,000 in cash in an operation that is connected to the infiltration of the criminal communications network.
Five men in their 30s, 40s and 50s remain in custody in garda stations in Dublin and the south east.
