Gardai seize loaded Glock pistol and arrest three suspects as part of probe into terrifying Christmas gun raid
The incident happened in Co Galway on December 27
Gardaí have dealt a hammer blow to a notorious crime gang - after officers seized this Glock pistol and another firearm in an operation in Co Roscommon.
The sawn off shotgun and loaded Glock were seized in Athlone on Wednesday as part of a probe into a terrifying burglary ordeal a homeowner suffered on December 27.
The homeowner was threatened by armed thugs during the attack in Ballinasloe, Co Galway – and sources say Gardaí believe the weapons seized on Wednesday were used in that raid.
It’s understood officers suspect a Midlands-based drugs and crime gang were behind that burglary. In the attack, three armed raiders burst into a house in the Garbally Demesne area at around 5.30am. They threatened the homeowner with guns before burgling the house. They then escaped in a dark-coloured car towards the centre of Ballinasloe.
Gardaí in Ballinasloe have been investigating the attack ever since it happened and made their move on suspects on Wednesday. They raided a house in Athlone's Monksland area and arrested three men, as well as seizing the two firearms.
They also seized cannabis and cocaine in the raid. The weapons and drugs are now to be forensically examined and tested. The three suspects, who Gardaí believe are associated with the Midlands crime gang, were questioned for several hours before being released without charge.
A Garda spokesman said the investigation was ongoing. He said: “Gardaí arrested three men and seized two firearms as well as quantities of cocaine and cannabis at Athlone, Co Roscommon, on Wednesday, 8th January.
“As part of investigations into an aggravated burglary at Garbally Demesne, Ballinasloe, Co Galway on 27th December, 2024, Gardaí from the crime office in Ballinasloe – supported by the Athlone crime office and Eastern Region Armed Support Unit – searched a residential property on Wednesday in Monksland, Athlone.
“Two firearms (a sawn-off shotgun and a handgun), cannabis with an estimated street value of €20,000 and a quantity of cocaine were found in undergrowth during the search. The firearms were made safe and will now be sent on to the Ballistics Section of the Garda Technical Bureau to undergo analysis. The drugs seized will be sent to FSI (Forensic Science Ireland) for analysis.
“Three men (two aged in their 40s and one in his 30s) were arrested and detained at a Garda Station in Co Galway under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. They were subsequently released without charge, pending further investigations.”
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