Garda crackdown in Portarlington involved armed and special units

Criminals who have set up shop in Portarlington on the Laois Offaly border got an unwelcome surprise on Wednesday as part of a Garda crackdown.

Laois Offaly Division Garda Chief Superintendent John Scanlon oversaw the operation which involved armed gardaí, drug unit detectives, uniformed gardaí amongst others. The Garda Mounted Unit was also on patrol around the town.

The operation involved a widespread sweep of areas in the border town where gardaí suspect criminals live. Details on arrests are not yet available.

The flooding in Mountmellick meant that some of the gardaí involved were diverted but the operation was regarded as a success.

Meanwhile, Tullamore Gardai working with Laois/Offaly Divisional Crime Taskforce carried out searches over the last weekend in Daingean, Offaly and locations on Offaly Westmeath. This resulted in a number of items stolen over the past number of weeks being recovered. All items recovered have been identified and owners notified.

Two men from the Daingean area who are aged in their 20s were arrested.

Gardaí believe the taskforce has already had a significant impact on criminal activity in the two counties.