Eight men are due in court following a substantial arms find on the outskirts of Tipperary town today.
The men, said by gardaí to be in their 20s and 30s, were arrested during a search operation in which four suspected pipe-bombs, a handgun and ammunition were found.
Gardaí said they were targeting individuals suspected of involvement in drug distribution and organised crime in the region.
Fifteen dwellings were searched in the operation but the arms, ammunition, and suspected pipe bombs were found in a laneway.
The arrested men were initially questioned at garda stations in Tipperary and Thurles under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
One of the men is due before Youghal District Court tomorrow and the other seven were released on bail and are due to present at Tipperary District Court next Wednesday.
The Army's explosive ordnance disposal unit was called to the scene to examine the suspected pipe-bombs. The firearm and ammunition were removed for forensic examination, gardaí said.
