Four men have been arrested and are currently being detained at Garda stations in the north western region as part of an ongoing investigations into targeting the activities of an organised grime group.
Gardaí carried out search operations in counties Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath and Offaly on Wednesday morning.
The organised crime group is believed to be involved in serious criminality including possession and discharge of firearms, drug dealing, drug intimidation, burglaries and serious assaults in east Galway and neighbouring areas.
Searches were carried out at six residential properties in Ballinasloe, Taughmaconnell, Athlone, Banagher and Cloghan.
Four men (three aged in their 20s and one in his 30s) were arrested and are currently being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984
Two vehicles were seized, along with phones and weapons including a machete, knives, cattle prod and a taser.
The operation involved Gardaí from Galway, Westmeath and Offaly Divisions, supported by the Armed Support Unit from the north western and eastern regions.
Investigations are ongoing.
