UPDATE: 30 arrests, €80k of drugs seized in Garda crackdown on Kilkenny criminals
THIRTY people were arrested and €80,000 worth of drugs seized in a major crackdown on Kilkenny criminals involving up to 80 gardai in the city and county today.
The arrests and drugs seizures are part of the ongoing Garda Operation Storm investigating organised criminal activity in the Kilkenny area.
The high-profile operation involved up to 80 uniformed and plain clothes gardai from the Kilkenny-Carlow Garda division backed up by national support services, including the Garda Mounted Unit, Dog Unit and Air Support Unit.
The officers were briefed by Chief Superintendent Dominic Hayes and Superintendent Derek Hughes at 6.20am in Kilkenny this morning ahead of the planned operation, which swung into action at 7am.
Kilkenny gardai tonight confirmed a total of 30 arrests were made throughout the day.
These include 16 people who were arrested for criminal offences, including burglary, theft, criminal damage and possession of child pornography.
Twelve of these have been charged. One adult received a caution, while a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in relation to one case.
Two remain in custody for questioning.
Gardai confirmed €80,000 worth of drugs were seized throughout the day.
This includes the seizure of €30,000 worth of cocaine and the discovery of €50,000 worth of cannabis at a grow-house on the Kilkenny-Tipperary border.
One person arrested in connection with the grow-house operation remains in custody.
