Crackdown on organised crime in Edgeworthstown

A viable pipe bomb was discovered in Edgeworthstown on Friday last, July 25, during a Garda search which was part of a crackdown on organised crime in the area.

Gardaí carried out searches on Wednesday and Friday in the town leading to the discovery of the pipe bomb. After a number of houses were evacuated, the pipe bomb was made safe by the Defence Forces.

During the two-day search operation, drugs, including cocaine and cannabis, were also found as were shotgun cartridges and weapons, including iron bars.

The searches are part of a new Garda operation , codenamed Edict, launched earlier this month to combat organised crime in Edgeworthstown.

Following the searches, three men were arrested, two of whom were later charged in connection to assault-related offences. The third man has since been released without charge.

On Monday, meanwhile, gardaí arrested four men after a jeep and tools were stolen on the outskirts of Ballinalee.

One of the suspects is a prime target of the operation and is currently being investigated in relation to the thefts of trailers and machinery over a long period.

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