Gardaí investigating a robbery at a pharmaceutical company in Co Wicklow are seeking anyone who may have been in the vicinity of the Servier Industries plant on the Gorey Road, Arklow, in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Gardaí say a number of masked men entered the premises sometime after midnight and tied up a member of the security staff and placed a bag over his head before making off with what was described as a "significant" drugs haul.
The alarm was raised at 2.45 a.m. but according to the company last night the full extent of the drugs haul was still being ascertained.
Servier, a French multinational, is present in 140 countries worldwide and consolidated turnover for 2002 was €2.1 billion.
The company said in a statement last night: "During his regular security rounds this morning, our security officer was intercepted by a number of masked individuals.
"Fortunately, we are happy to inform you that the officer was not harmed during this traumatic incident. As soon as the Garda investigation is complete, we will be in a position to determine the quantity and value of pharmaceutical products taken during the raid.
"We would point out that our products are prescription medicines used in the treatment of blood pressure and diabetes."
An expansion plan announced by the Tánaiste Ms Harney detailed a € 52 million investment, supported by IDA Ireland.
The investment would add more than 100 new jobs over five years and would treble the production.
