GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING a gangland feud have seized an Uzi sub-machinegun, ammunition, ecstasy tablets and drug-mixing agents.
The haul was found during the search of a car and two apartments in Donaghmede, Dublin, by members of the Garda’s organised crime unit (OCU).
The gun seized is the same type of weapon used by members of the Garda’s special detective unit.
A man and woman have been arrested for questioning in connection with the find.
The couple were detained at separate addresses in Donaghmede during the Garda operation in north Dublin yesterday morning.
The man arrested is well known to gardaí as a drug dealer. and is currently on bail having been charged with drugs offences. He is from the north side of the city and is aligned to a drugs gang operating in Donnycarney, Coolock and other north Dublin suburbs.
Gardaí believe the man is also linked to one of the gangs involved in the Crumlin-Drimnagh gangland feud in south Dublin.
Intelligence suggests the suspect owes the gang leader money for drugs and he has become embroiled in a feud with him because of this.
Some of the suspect’s female relatives have had pipe bombs left outside their homes at least three times since the start of the summer.
After the most recent attack, gardaí received intelligence that the man under arrest last night was about to retaliate against those men who had targeted his family.
Gardaí believe the Uzi machinegun found yesterday was acquired by the man because he believed he needed it as protection against the Crumlin-Drimnagh gang leader targeting him.
Gardaí moved in on the man’s apartment in Donaghmede at around 9.30am yesterday. They found 3kgs of mixing agent that they believe was being used to bulk up cocaine to inflate its value when sold on the streets.
Gardaí took car keys from the man and searched his car outside the apartment. In the car they found the Uzi and ammunition, as well as 10,000 ecstasy tablets valued at up to €50,000.
In a linked operation the man’s partner was arrested at another apartment nearby.
Both were detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. They can be detained without charge for up to 72 hours.
The man is being held at Coolock Garda station. while the woman is being held at Raheny.
The arrests and search operation were carried out by member’s of the Garda organised crime unit, which is an anti-gang section of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The searches were part of the unit’s investigation of crime linked to the Crumlin-Drimnagh feuding gangs.