27 arrested as part of Operation Storm

Gardaí from the south KilkennyCarlow division arrested 27 people, seizing drugs, in the latest Operation Thor - Project Storm sweep on local criminals in the Graiguenamangh and Thomastown areas on Wednesday.

ver 50 gardaí were involved in raids on houses and apartments between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Sergeant Ted Hughes at Thomastown Garda Station said gardaí were backed up by the armed support team. Checkpoints were in place in both towns and along approach roads. Ten premises were searched and there were six arrests for possession of drugs and two for possession of drugs for sale or supply.

12 people were detained at Carlow and Thomastown garda stations following the operation on theft, assault, fraud, burglaries and drug dealing charges and all defendants will be appearing at Carlow and Kilkenny district courts over the coming weeks.

‘ The rest will be the subject of further investigations and files are being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions,’ Sgt Hughes said.

11 arrests were on foot of bench warrants having been issued at courts across the country and in total 13 bench warrants were executed on Wednesday.

Sgt Hughes said 27 trainee gardaí were involved in the operation, gaining invaluable experience. He said there has been a notable decrease in crime in the area since 2015 when Operation Thor was initiated by garda management to stamp out crime in the south Kilkenny and Carlow area.

This operation follows a previous operation in early October which saw €20,000 in drugs seized and 27 arrests.