A suspect major player in the Irish drugs trade was arrested in Belgium last month.
The man (41), who is from a small village on the outskirts of Limerick city, is suspected of being responsible for smuggling large quantities of cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine into Ireland.
He was arrested by Belgian federal police on October 27th and taken into custody.
"He would be a significant person. He's the main organiser out there in mainland Europe. Most of his time would have been spent in Holland but he also has a base in Belgium," said a senior garda who has been briefed on the investigation.
The Belgian police carried out follow up raids on several premises, including a warehouse, in the wake of the Limerick man's arrest. They discovered ecstasy tablets, cannabis, five firearms and ammunition, illegal cigarettes and chemicals used to manufacture ecstasy.
A Belgian man was arrested in connection with the finds.
The Dutch National Crime Squad also carried out raids on the house and garage of a Dutch national linked to the Limerick man.
They discovered 500,000 ecstasy tablets and a mobile laboratory in a van capable of manufacturing 50,000 pills an hour.
The Dutch police also discovered two firearms, one of which was hidden under the bed, and arrested the Dutch national.
"That's the way the criminals operate in Holland. They have mobile laboratories and they would move them from place to place every so often because there's a lot of residue that has to be dumped and they're able to avoid detection from the legal authorities," said the senior garda.
The Limerick man was a major target for the Garda National Drug Unit, which had shared intelligence on him with the Dutch and Belgian authorities. He has been suspected of being involved with a €10 million seizure of cannabis found in Knockirr, Co Kildare, in August, and separate seizures of €1.4 million-worth of cocaine in counties Louth and Cork.
He had been living abroad for at least four years and had built up strong links with Dutch and Belgian criminals. He also had connections with gangs in Limerick involved in the drugs trade from his earlier days.
The man has been detained on the order of a Belgian investigating magistrate and will be held in custody while the police continue their investigation.
Gardaí believe the man's arrest will disrupt the drugs trade in Ireland but that other suppliers will be tempted to fill the gap in the market.
PA