Man (20s) arrested after gardaí find gun concealed in his bulletproof vest in Dublin 8

A man in his 20s was arrested after gardaí found a gun hidden in the bulletproof vest he was wearing in Dublin 8 on Tuesday night.

Uniformed gardaí on routine patrol from Kilmainham (Community Engagement) Garda Station observed two men of interest entering a taxi on Turvey Avenue, Inchicore, Dublin 8 at around 8pm last night, June 24th.

The gardaí were met with a strong smell of cannabis upon stopping the taxi, a garda statement said.

Both men were told they were going to be searched under the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, and one of them was found to be wearing a bulletproof vest and in possession of a "substantial sum" of money.

As he was being searched, a .22 calibre pistol fell from being concealed in the vest.

The man (20s) was arrested in connection with the seizure and is currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, 1939 at a garda station in Dublin.

The seized firearm is now subject to a full technical examination, and the investigation is ongoing, the statement added.

Speaking about the seizure, assistant garda commissioner Paul Cleary said that he wanted to commend the work of the two uniformed members "going about their duties diligently and proactively.

"This was a timely intervention likely to have saved lives or prevented serious injury and is another dangerous firearm which has been taken off the streets of Dublin," he said.