Gardaí have made almost 250 arrests and seized more than 120 illegally held firearms in the first 10 weeks of Operation Anvil, which is investigating serious organised crime in the Dublin area.
Supt Kevin Donohoe said yesterday that Operation Anvil is subject to weekly review by local management and is refocused as appropriate. He denied a report in a Sunday newspaper that the operation was being wound down. "There are no budgetary issues in relation to this operation and no end date has been determined," he said.
Since Operation Anvil began on May 17th, gardaí have set up 7,289 checkpoints, made 244 arrests, conducted 1,923 drug searches, seized 123 firearms and recovered €1.6 million-worth of property.
"All investigations are progressing and are at various stages. Covert operations and intelligence-gathering exercises continue to be an integral part of the operational plan and are also continuing," said Supt Donohoe.
The announcement comes after three men were injured in two gangland-style shootings in south Dublin. Two men were shot at a house in Knocknarea Road, Drimnagh, by attackers on a motorbike at about 5pm on Monday. On Sunday night a 25-year-old man was shot at St Martin's Park, Kimmage.
According to gardaí yesterday, all three men are recovering from their injuries. No arrests have been made and gardaí have renewed their appeal for witnesses.
Labour Party justice spokesman Joe Costello has called on the Government to do more to combat gun-related crime in the capital. He warned that Operation Anvil must not be abandoned.
"The gardaí cannot effectively combat gun crime if they have to function merely on a blitz basis for a few months of the year until the money for a particular operation runs out." He said a permanent strategy was necessary to "put gun gangs out of business".
"This must include the recruitment of the promised 2000 extra gardaí, who are now urgently required to take on crime bosses 12 months of the year. "