A notorious Traveller mob whose €1.2million worth of cocaine was seized after gardai intercepted two cars are among the most significant players in the drugs trade in the country.
The mob, who officers also recovered over €350,000 from after finding the cash in two bags in follow up searches, are a "priority target" for investigators from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
Based along the Dublin-Meath border, having previously resided to the west of the capital, leading members have been at the centre of a number of organised crime investigations for many years.
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Detectives believe they are responsible for smuggling narcotics into the country through a number of routes and are working with international contacts.
Earlier this week, the DOCB acted on intelligence when it intercepted two vehicles in The Ward area, near the N2, in north county Dublin on Monday where they found the huge haul of cocaine.
Following the seizure, three business premises and six residential properties and lands were searched.
Due to the gang's habit of burying drugs and weapons, members of the Defence Forces were brought in and used metal detectors in fields and sheds.
Inside one, two bags of cash were discovered with €350,000 and £28,000 sterling.
Financial documentation, vehicles, electronic devices, a money counter and a vacuum-packing machine were also taken by specialist gardai to be examined.
Sources say while it is a blow, it is by no means a fatal one.
One source told us: "These are serious players who have significant contacts in the drugs trade both home and abroad.
"They have huge resources so in terms of the seizure, it's a blow but they'll keep going once the heat has died down a bit.
"And gardai are well aware of that and the importance of keeping the pressure on them."
The targeted traveller hoods have previously provided logistical support to other major gangs in Dublin, with stolen cars and with firearms for transportation of drugs and hits.
Since moving to the Dublin-Meath border, they have bought vast amounts of land.
It also has a number of front businesses in which they use to launder money, stash guns and to store stolen cars.
Another source said: "These individuals are very shrewd and everything goes through this small and tight knit group.
"And they have their whole operation set up in a very complex way to make everything as difficult as possible for law enforcement to get them."
Justin Kelly, Assistant Commissioner of Organised and Serious Crime said: "The focus of An Garda Siochana is preventing harm to our communities.
"This operation has prevented a significant amount of cocaine making it onto our streets for supply, the profit from which would have been reinvested, not only in further drugs supply, but also to fuel other forms of violence and harm.
"Seizing this huge sum of cash is a significant blow for this organised crime group and demonstrates our strategy to dismantle such groups and deprive them of their illicit profits."
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