The families of two Irish gang members feared abducted in Spain have approached gardaí to help in search for them.
Mr Shane Coates (31), and Mr Stephen Sugg (27) are understood to be members of Dublin's "Westies" criminal gang.
They were reportedly abducted from an apartment in Alicante, Spain, around 10 days ago. A Garda spokesman confirmed today that the two men had been reported missing. The men's families have asked gardaí at Blanchardstown for their help.
Gardaí are understood to be investigating the reports the pair have been abducted, but they believe it is possible reports are part of an elaborate hoax.
Fears for the safety of Mr Sugg and Mr Coates have grown amid reports that they owed a large amount of money for a consignment of cannabis shipped out of Spain for the Irish market.
Mr Sugg and his girlfriend left Ireland last year after shots were fired at his house. His brother, Bernard (23), was shot dead in a pub in west Dublin last August. Although Bernard Sugg had no convictions, Garda sources said he had been heavily involved in drug dealing, theft and protection rackets.
Mr Coates fled the country after he was reportedly hit in the leg in a shoot-out in Cavan last year with the Garda Emergency Response Unit. He has never been questioned about the incident.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said its consular services had not been asked for help.