Gardaí have arrested another man in connection with the investigation into a €2.2 million security van robbery in March bringing the total number held in custody in relation to the incident to 23.
The man, believed to be in his forties, was arrested in north Dublin this afternoon.
The 22 arrests in Dublin and Meath yesterday morning followed one of the biggest series of raids against organised crime in the Republic. One of those arrested is a staff member of a major cash-in-transit company.
Those being detained were arrested at about 6.30am when more than 250 gardaí simultaneously raided almost 70 houses across Dublin city and in Ashbourne, Co Meath.
Detectives recovered €300,000 in cash, at least six luxury vehicles, plasma televisions and a number of firearms, including three revolvers and a sawn-off shotgun.
A large quantity of cocaine, valued at at least €100,000, was also seized.
Senior Garda sources last night said they believed the money and the vehicles seized were the proceeds of the robbery of a Securicor van in Dublin last month.
Sources said the vehicles, which included three Mercedes and two BMWs, were bought about the time of the robbery. The suspects have all been buying other luxury items and electronic goods as well as booking expensive holidays.
One of the arrested men had bought a car for more than €40,000 for himself and a €25,000 car for his partner.
Gardaí believe a small number of the men arrested last night were in the process of setting themselves up in the illicit drugs industry with some of the money recovered.
The 19 men and three women arrested are being detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. All are being held at different stations across the greater Dublin area and can be detained for up to 72 hours.
Meanwhile, senior gardaí, including members of the Criminal Assets Bureau met this afternoon to discuss the next step in their investigation into a €2.2 million security van robbery in March.
The Criminal Assets Bureau is examining the bank accounts of the people arrested yesterday in connection with the robbery.