Two more arrests in crime probe

Two more men have been arrested as part of an international operation targeting organised crime.

The PSNI seized 14 pistols and arrested a 34-year-old man on Tuesday, while gardai seized 27 other firearms in the Republic and heroin worth about £3.25m.

A 42-year-old man was detained in north Dublin by Garda officers.

On Wednesday, another two men in their 30s were arrested in Birr, County Offaly and Roscrea, County Tipperary by gardai.

They are currently being detained at Blanchardstown Garda Station under Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act.

The man arrested in Northern Ireland on Tuesday was also from the Republic.

He was arrested as part of the operation at a Belfast city centre hotel. The guns were found at a separate location.

Dutch police were also thought to have been involved in the operation.

Speaking on Tuesday, PSNI Detective Superintendent Essie Adair said the arrests were "extremely significant".

"We believe that this operation has disrupted a major organised crime gang," he said.

"Those involved in these types of crimes are living off the backs of communities and leaving misery and despair in their wake."

Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy said the arrests had damaged a powerful European drugs trafficking network.

"We believe that this operation has made significant inroads into an international organised crime gang involved on a large scale in the importation of drugs and firearms into Ireland and the United Kingdom," he said.