Three Irish people accused of conspiracy to send guns to Ireland had bail applications refused by a federal court judge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, yesterday.
Mr Conor Anthony Claxton, Ms Siobhan Browne and Mr Anthony Smyth were described as "dangerous" and "committed to a foreign cause". Prosecution lawyer Mr Richard Scruggs said Mr Claxton told FBI agents after his arrest on Monday that he was "a member of the Irish Republican Army".
Mr Scruggs said Mr Claxton had told the FBI the Irish peace process had failed and that the weapons would be used against British troops, the RUC and Protestant paramilitaries.
However, Mr Claxton's lawyer, Mr Abe Bailey, told Judge Barry Selzer the FBI interview had not been recorded and Mr Claxton had told him "suggestions were made to me and I might have nodded my head".
Garda Special Branch officers are expected to meet US and British police to ascertain the identity and affiliations of the group involved in the plot to smuggle weapons from the US.
Yesterday, gardai discovered more guns and ammunition for the .50 sniper rifle similar to the type used by the Provisional IRA's "Border sniper" unit which killed nine members of the security forces in the North between 1992 and 1996.
Two handguns, 30 rounds of the .50 ammunition and 12 magazines for assault rifles were discovered at the SDS postal depot on the Naas Road, Dublin, yesterday morning. Gardai say the weapons were found in a parcel which had been sent from Florida. It would appear that the republican figures involved in the smuggling plot have acquired a small arsenal of high-powered modern weapons. At least 34 handguns have so far been intercepted and it is feared the group may have previously succeeded in smuggling other weapons into the State.
The discovery has given rise to concerns that republicans associated with the Provisional IRA were planning a resumption of violence.
Also yesterday, gardai in Galway received permission from the circuit court for the further detention of a Belfast man and a Galway woman who were arrested after six handguns were found in a house in Inverin, Connemara. These guns had also just arrived in parcels from Florida.
It is known that at least two of the men being questioned have had links with the Provisional IRA. However Garda sources said they were still trying to establish if these people were still associated with the Provisional IRA or had developed links with one of the dissident republican elements.
Paul Tanney writes
Another man was arrested last night in Clifden, Co Galway. According to reports he flew into Shannon yesterday from America. He is believed to be in his mid 50s and gardai confirmed he has an address in California.
He was arrested at around 8 p.m. and taken to Millstreet Garda station for questioning.