Armed gardaí arrested a man in Mullingar, Co Westmeath today as part of what they said was an investigation into alleged extortion.
A Garda statement said that Gardaí at Mullingar, assisted by members of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) arrested a man in his 30s shortly after 1pm.
He is currently being detained at Mullingar Garda station under the provisions of section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
The Garda statement said the ongoing investigation "revolved around alleged extortion/ blackmail".