Eight people to appear in court as gardaí investigate organised crime group with links aborad

Eva Osborne

Five men and three women are due to appear before court sittings after being arrested and charged in connection with an ongoing Garda investigation into an organised crime group.

Three women, aged in their 30s and 40s, and one man aged in his 30s were arrested on Tuesday night in Cork, Laois, and Carlow by gardaí attached to the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB).

They were since charged and are due before court sittings at Carlow District Court, Tullamore District Court, and Fermoy District Court on Wednesday morning.

In addition, four men (three aged in their 40s and one in their 30s) were arrested on Wednesday morning and are also due to appear before courts in the Criminal Courts of Justice, Dublin, Thurles District Court, and Carlow District Court for charges related to this investigation.

Gardaí said the organised crime group has a trans-national element, linking in with criminal entities abroad.

In a statement, a Garda spokesperson said: "Last night’s operation follows on from a number of arrests which were made as part of this investigation between February 2026 and April 2026.

"This investigation by GNDOCB has been ongoing since November 2024.

"It has centred on the investigation and disruption of the activities of the OCG, dismantling their ability to function and enhance their OCG, and ultimately, prosecute all members of this OCG who operate within this jurisdiction."