Gardaí and Polish police bust smuggling networks and seize drugs

A joint operation between gardaí and Polish police has seen €8 million worth of controlled drugs seized in Ireland over the past three years.

The investigation led to the arrest of 13 Polish nationals in Ireland and the seizure of 340kg of cannabis herb and 155kg of cannabis resin.

The operation was set up to target organised crime groups operating across Poland, Spain and Ireland.

The core of the criminal groups were Poles living in Spain, Poland's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBSP) said in a statement, with some members having links to Polish football hooliganism.

"During the investigation, 600 kilograms of marijuana, 180 kilograms of hashish, 40 kilograms of amphetamine sulfate, as well as seven firearms and several hundred rounds of ammunition were seized," the CBSP said.

The core group trafficked drugs to several parts of Europe, mainly Ireland, Germany, Austria and Scandinavia.

The investigation was conducted together with law enforcement agencies from a number of European Union countries, the CBSP said.