Gardaí Seize Luxury Goods and Freeze €1 Million in Cash in Major Galway-Mayo Drug Gang Crackdown
In a significant drug gang crackdown in Mayo and Galway, Gardaí have seized luxury goods and frozen nearly €1 million in cash and cryptocurrency. This extensive operation, which has been ongoing for over a year, involved searches of eight homes in north Galway and south Mayo, leading to the confiscation of high-value cars, cash, jewellery, and electronic devices.
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Criminal Groups With Ties to Transnational Crime Groups Spark Major Drug Gang Crackdown
The organised crime gangs in the west of Ireland have been engaged in a violent feud over control of the lucrative drugs trade, particularly dealing in cocaine and cannabis. These gangs have established connections with transnational organised crime groups supplying the drugs. The feud has resulted in several attacks on homes and cars, including petrol bombings and shootings in various towns.
The latest operation saw officers from the Galway Divisional Crime and Drugs Units, supported by national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Armed Support, and the Dog Unit, carry out searches in Ballinrobe, Swinford, Tuam, and Moycullen. Seized items included a Tiguan Jeep, an Audi car, a Ford Transit Van, 12 designer watches, multiple laptops, mobile phones, and €75,000 in cash.
Two bank accounts, one in Ireland and another abroad, were also frozen, containing over €530,000 worth of cryptocurrency and €465,000 in cash. Although no arrests were made during this phase, over 20 individuals have been arrested or charged in connection with the ongoing investigation into organised crime in the region.
