Five people, including a civil servant, have been arrested in Dublin as part an investigation into corruption.
Gardaí refused to elaborate on the nature of the inquiry.
Officers from the Garda National Immigration Bureau and Detectives from Terenure Garda Station arrested the 64-year-old male civil servant 11.35 a.m. at Burgh Quay, in the city centre.
Two male and two female Chinese nationals were arrested in follow-up searches in the Dublin area, the Garda said.
They have been arrested under section 1 of The Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 as amended by section 38 of The Ethics in Public Office Act 1995. All five are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994.
The civil servant is being detained at Terenure Garda Station. One woman (25) is being detained at Kevin Street, another female (21) and a male (22) were take to Store Street, and one male (35) was brought to Pearse Street Garda station.
