Some 14 people have been arrested today as part of an ongoing investigation into organised crime and drug trafficking in the south east of the country.
The 12 men and two women, aged 18 to 54, were arrested after gardaí carried out planned searches of 27 homes and businesses in Cos Carlow, Meath, Offaly, Laois, Tipperary and Waterford early this morning.
Twelve of the detained were arrested in Co Carlow, one in Co Meath and one in Co Wexford and are being held in garda stations in the south east under Section 50, Criminal Justice Act.
A large consignment of contraband cigarettes was also recovered in the raids.
The operation involved gardaí from Carlow, regional and national units and customs officers.
A garda spokesman said the operation was established in the Carlow District in October last year with the specific objective of targeting organised criminal activity, drug trafficking and the possession of firearms in the county and throughout the south east.
To date the operation has yielded 18 seizures of controlled substances and cash while €4.4 million worth of drugs - including cannabis, cocaine and amphetamines - has also been recovered.