Eleven people were in Garda custody last night after a suspected plot to murder a prominent drug dealer was foiled, two cocaine processing plants were discovered and cocaine and heroin valued at almost €4.5 million was seized in Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Cork.
A large quantity of ammunition was also found in an apartment in Celbridge, Co Kildare, during searches linked to one of the cocaine processing plants.
During one of the operations yesterday morning, armed detectives wrestled a man to the ground in Drumcondra, Dublin. The man was carrying out surveillance on a drug dealer in preparation for what gardaí believe was his planned murder.
Most of the searches, arrests and seizures were carried out by the Organised Crime Unit attached to the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
These were supported by members of the Emergency Response Unit, National Surveillance Unit, and uniform and plain-clothes gardaí from across Dublin.
The intense period of Garda activity began in Celbridge on Monday night. Gardaí raided an apartment in the Simmonstown Manor estate. They found three Dublin men on the premises.
Cocaine with an estimated street value of €3 million was found as it was being mixed with a glucose bulking agent and packed into deal-sized packs.
Gardaí found a variety of equipment usually associated with cocaine processing plants such as blenders, compressors and weighing scales.
A large amount of ammunition was also found.
The three men are in their 20s and are from the Beaumont and Kilbarrack areas of north Dublin. They were being held at Garda stations in Naas and Newbridge.
Garda sources described the men as "new kids on the block" who were working for a drugs gang based on the north side of Dublin city.
In the Drumcondra operation yesterday morning, gardaí arrested two men on Botanic Road, Drumcondra, at 9am.
Gardaí believe the men were studying the movements of a known drug dealer with a view to planning his shooting dead.
The men arrested are from the north inner city and Finglas areas and are in their 20s.
One was travelling on a motorbike and the other in a car. Their arrest followed a Garda surveillance operation that was put in place after intelligence was received about the murder plot. The intended victim is a man in his early 30s who has had addresses in Drumcondra and the north inner city. He has been involved in the heroin trade since the mid-1990s and has been importing drugs to Ireland from the UK.
The man had been informed by gardaí of the threat and knew gardaí were watching the two men who were following him.
After the arrests of the suspects, gardaí carried out follow- up searches for firearms linked to the men.
At one property in Clonee, Co Meath, a man and woman in their 20s were arrested after cocaine valued at €1 million was seized.
At a second property in Duleek, Co Meath, another man and woman in their 20s were arrested. Gardaí believe the Duleek property was being used as a cocaine processing plant.
Five stolen cars, including Audi and Volkswagen models, were also found at the house.
The two couples, and the two men arrested in Drumcondra, were being held in Garda stations in Blanchardstown, Coolock, Santry, Whitehall and Balbriggan.
Meanwhile, in Cork city, a 45-year-old man was being held at the Bridewell Garda station after his arrest early yesterday with heroin worth €15,000 at Blackrock Road.
A 24-year-old man was being held at the same station after his arrest on Monaghan Road in the city yesterday with cocaine worth €140,000.