ARMS SEIZURE IS BLOW TO GANG

GARDAÍ in Sligo have dealt a significant blow to a crime gang operating in the city following an arms find at the rear of a house.

A revolver, shotgun and ammunition were seized in the raid in the St Brigid’s Place area of the city on Wednesday last. A quantity of drugs were also discovered.

They were found buried in the garden. Gardaí based at Sligo Garda Station backed up by members of the Armed Support Unit conducted the raids on three houses.

Follow up searches were also carried out and while no arrests were made investigations are continuing and the seizures have dealt a significant blow to the small gang’s activities.

The guns have been sent for forensic analysis though it’s unlikely they had been used in any previous shooting incidents in Sligo, the last of which were a number of years ago.

Gardaí believe they were being used as protection by the gang’s leader who has been operating a drugs business for quite some time but who keeps a low profile.

He has built up quite a substantial drugs business according to sources but he has never got into any trouble himself.

The man, in his early 30s, operates with the support of a very small number of close associates who are also now under the microscope of Gardaí.

However, he is said to have had a run- in with the city’s main drug gang in the recent past.

An incident occurred in the street with a rival gang member close to where he lives which resulted in fistifcuffs but no complaints were subsequently made to Gardaí.