Gardaí raid 39 properties in Coolock and Raheny targeting organised crime gangs
Over 150 Gardaí carried out a major search operation at 39 properties in the Coolock and Raheny areas of north Dublin on 14 January 2025, targeting organised crime gangs suspected of burglaries, drug trafficking and other property crimes. Three men were charged, one man in his 20s was arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, and two men were arrested on outstanding bench warrants.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested14 Jan
2 reports - Charged14 Jan
3 reports - In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports63 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí arrested three men during the search operation on 14 January 2025. (garda.ie)
- whatSuspected illegal cannabis with an approximate value of €160,000 was seized. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatCocaine with a value of €22,000 was seized. (garda.ie)
- whatDesigner watches and clothing with a value of €161,000 were seized. (garda.ie)
- whatIndustrial power tools with a value of €30,000 were seized. (garda.ie)
- whatThree vehicles were seized during the operation. (garda.ie)
- whatA number of weapons were seized during the operation. (garda.ie)
- whatMore than 150 Garda members arrived at search sites in large convoys (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe operation targeted a well-known gang leader and two other groups linked to nationwide crime for decades (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe main target is a man in his 40s with more than 100 previous criminal convictions (irishtimes.com)
- what39 addresses were searched under warrant (irishtimes.com)
- whatThree arrests were made during the operation (irishtimes.com)
- whatCannabis valued at €160,000 was discovered (irishtimes.com)
- whatCocaine worth €22,000 was discovered (irishtimes.com)
- whatDesigner watches and clothing valued at approximately €161,000 were seized (irishtimes.com)
- whatPower tools valued at €30,000 were seized (irishtimes.com)
- whatThree vehicles were seized (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatAn assortment of weapons was seized (irishtimes.com)
- whatSome of those targeted are suspected prolific burglars who travel to the regions to execute well-organised burglaries (irishtimes.com)
- whatOver 150 Garda members were deployed in the operation (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí conducted organised searches under warrant of 39 properties (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe operation was targeting feuding traveller gangs (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe gangs are suspected of burglaries, drug trafficking, counterfeiting, theft and other property crimes (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOfficers feared weapons were being stored at the properties (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAround €100,000 of suspected drugs were seized (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOver 150 Gardaí carried out the major raid (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWeapons were seized during the operation (irishmirror.ie)
- what€22,000 worth of cocaine was seized (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatDesigner watches and clothing worth around €161,000 were seized (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatIndustrial power tools worth around €30,000 were seized (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatThree men were arrested in connection with the searches (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man in his 20s was arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatTwo other men were arrested on foot of outstanding bench warrants (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatOver 150 gardai carried out a major raid on a halting site (dublinlive.ie)
- whatGardaí searched 39 premises under warrant (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA notorious criminal with over 100 convictions was a main target of the searches (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe gang is suspected of burglaries and drug trafficking across the country (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThree vehicles and a number of weapons were seized (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe operation targeted organised criminal gangs suspected of burglaries, drug trafficking, counterfeiting, theft and other property crimes (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe main sites searched were in Coolock and Raheny (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe operation targeted organised crime gangs in the Coolock and Raheny areas of Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe raid took place at a site near Belcamp in Coolock (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe raid took place near Belcamp in Coolock, north Dublin (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe searches started on Tuesday morning, 14 January 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe raid took place early on Tuesday 14 January 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe operation was carried out amid fears a Traveller feud was about to seriously escalate (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe drugs seized are subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland. (garda.ie, irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe Social Welfare Investigation Unit identified significant and numerous suspected fraudulent claims. (garda.ie, irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe man was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in North Dublin. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe investigation remains ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationMultiple Garda units including DMR North, GNBCI, GNECB, Operational Support, Garda Dog Unit, Armed Support Unit and Garda National Public Order Unit were involved (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe operation was still ongoing at the time of reporting (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationOfficers from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, Armed Support Unit, Public Order Unit, National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, National Economic Bureau, Dog Unit and Dublin Metropolitan North Region were involved (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeThe man in his 20s has since been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeThree men were charged in connection with the searches (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe three arrested men appeared before a special sitting of the Criminal Courts of Justice on 14 January 2025. (garda.ie)
- courtThe three arrested men were due to appear before a special sitting of the Criminal Courts of Justice on Tuesday evening (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe notorious criminal is currently before the courts on serious charges and cannot be named (irishmirror.ie)
- otherFears existed that a traveller gang were storing weapons for a future hit (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA bitter feud was escalating between warring criminal factions in the travelling community (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA notorious criminal with over 100 convictions is a person of particular interest to Gardaí (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe notorious criminal and his mob are suspected of burglaries across the country and drug trafficking (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe criminal is currently before the courts on serious charges and cannot be named (dublinlive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 15 Jan2025Gardai raid Dublin halting site over Traveller feud escalation fears
Reports the results of a major multi-agency search operation at 39 properties in Coolock and Raheny, including seizures of weapons, drugs, vehicles, watches and tools, and the charging of three men.
suspect, 20s, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 14 Jan2025Arrests made after major garda halting site raid amid feud escalation fears
Provides itemised list of seized goods (weapons, €160,000 cannabis, €22,000 cocaine, €161,000 watches/clothing, €30,000 power tools, three vehicles), confirms three arrests (one in his 20s under Section 4, two on bench warrants), notes Social Welfare Investigation Unit identified fraudulent claims, and identifies a notorious criminal with over 100 convictions connected to 'Mr Big' as a person of interest not among the arrested.
suspect, 20s, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, male - 14 Jan2025Over 150 Gardai take part in major operation targeting feuding traveller gangs
Adds that the operation specifically targeted feuding traveller gangs, that officers feared weapons were being stored, that around €100,000 of suspected drugs had been seized, and lists the specific Garda units involved (DMR North, GNBCI, GNECB, Operational Support, Garda Dog Unit, Armed Support Unit, Garda National Public Order Unit).
- 14 Jan2025Crime gangs in north Dublin targeted in large-scale Garda operation involving 39 searches
Provides further detail on the operation: identifies the main target as a man in his 40s with over 100 previous convictions, notes involvement of the Armed Support Unit and Public Order Unit, specifies the value of seized items (€160,000 cannabis, €22,000 cocaine, €161,000 designer watches and clothing, €30,000 power tools, three vehicles, weapons), and mentions the Social Welfare Investigation Unit identified suspected fraudulent claims.
suspect, 40s, male - 14 Jan2025Update: Arrests and Court Appearances - Search Operation Targeting Organised Crime in North Dublin, 14th January 2025
Update confirming the arrests and court appearances from the search operation, adding details on the value and types of seized items, the Social Welfare Investigation Unit's findings of suspected fraudulent claims, and the specific charges and detention status of the three men.
suspect, 20s, malesuspect, 20s, malesuspect, 30s, male