Gardaí arrest 18 people in Carlow as part of major investigation into organised crime

Eighteen people (18) have been arrested by Gardaí as part of Operation Thor – 'Project Storm' a policing initiative aimed at preventing crime, disrupting criminal activity and enhancing community engagement in the Kilkenny - Carlow Division. The arrests were made during a day-of-action in the Carlow area yesterday 25/9/2018. Of the 18 arrests, 16 people were detained for questioning under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 for a range of alleged offences including theft, assault, fraud, burglary and criminal damage. Ten have since been charged and will appear at local sittings of Carlow and Kilkenny District Court in the coming weeks. A total of 36 checkpoints targeting the movement of local criminal groups were carried out during the operation resulting in one arrest and the seizure 5 vehicles under the road traffic acts. A number of community engagement activities took pace during the day, including road safety workshops at a local schools. The Garda Mounted Unit visited a number of primary schools in the area and a crime prevention stand was set up at Carlow shopping centre. The operation was led by Gardaí from the Carlow/ Kilkenny Division, assisted by the Armed Support Unit. Twenty five (25) Trainee Gardaí currently based at the Garda College Templemore also took part in the operation