Gardaí arrested five men today as part of an ongoing operation into the activities of dissident republicans.
A garda spokesman said the men were arrested after members of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) stopped and searched a car at 11.25am on the Ecco Rd in Dundalk.
Two men aged in their mid-20s and mid-30s were arrested and a firearm and balaclava recovered.
The men were taken for questioning to Dundalk Garda station.
About 10 minutes later three other men were arrested after following another search on a car in Ardee. Ammunition and a balaclava were recovered in the search.
The men, ranging in age from early 30s to mid 50s, are being detained in Drogheda and Balbriggan Garda stations.
All five are being held under the provisions of section 30 Offences against the State Act.