Gardaí investigating illegal dumping in west Wicklow arrested two men in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, early yesterday morning.
The men, who are haulage contractors, are believed to be members of the same family. They were detained in Naas Garda Station.
The gardaí, members of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, are handling one of two investigations into illegal dumping in Co Wicklow which were set up after clinical hospital waste and other refuse was found at a number of locations adjacent to the N81 road through the west of the county.
Wicklow County Council, which is running the second investigation into the dumping, said yesterday it had not been given advance knowledge of the arrests.
It is understood the Garda team was disappointed when it emerged that a key file, containing details identifying hauliers, had been mislaid by the council.