Five men arrested as part of investigation into major drugs gang based in Dublin

Ellen O'Donoghue

Five men were arrested by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) in Dublin on Monday morning.

According to The Irish Times, three senior members of a Dublin-based drugs gang known as The Family were arrested by gardaí during early morning raids in the city.

The gang has been active in drug dealing for over two decades but in recent years has displaced the Kinahan cartel’s Irish operation as the biggest drugs importers into the Republic.

The men, aged in their 30s, 40s and 60s, were arrested for alleged offences contrary to the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 and are currently detained, pursuant to the provisions of Section 50 of Criminal Justice Act, 2007, at Garda stations across the Dublin and Eastern garda regions.

Gardaí said the operation was supported by the Emergency Response Unit, Regional Armed Support Unit, Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Dublin Crime Response Team.

All five men who were arrested remain in Garda custody.