An Garda Síochána has conducted a series of raids in counties Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath and Offaly, targeting organised criminal activity, whereby a number or arrests were made and various weapons seized in the process, one of which included a cattle prod.

Gardaí confirmed that search operations were undertaken at six residential properties in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway; Taughmaconnell and Athlone, Co. Roscommon; Athlone, Co. Westmeath, as well as Banagher and Cloghan, Co. Offaly, in the early hours of yesterday morning, February 12.

Four men - three aged in their 20s and one in his 30s - were arrested at the scene and are being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at stations in the garda north western region.

The organised crime group which these men are suspected to be members of, has been accredited with "serious criminality" in and around its reported base in east Galway as well as across neighbouring counties, An Garda Síochána said.

According to An Garda Síochána, the crime group has been charged with the "possession and discharge of firearms, drug dealing, drug intimidation, burglaries and serious assaults".

The search operations reportedly involved garda officers from Galway, Westmeath and Offaly divisions, who were supported by the armed support unit from the north western and eastern region.

In addition to the four arrests made at the properties during the raids, An Garda Síochána confiscated two vehicles, a number of mobile phones, and numerous weapons, including a machete, knives, a cattle prod and a taser.

The representative from An Garda Síochána told Agriland that its investigations into the criminal activity of the crime group subject to the raids remain of an ongoing nature.