Updated 9.15pm

GARDAÍ HAVE ARRESTED 45 people in Carlow as part of Operation Thor today.

A total of 12 searches of dwellings have been carried out by search teams in the ongoing operation. Some 70 gardaí are involved, including local gardaí, the Garda mounted unit, the Garda dog unit and Garda regional support unit.

Gardaí charged 14 people, six of whom were due to appear before Carlow District Court this evening.

While the operation is ongoing, with searches, arrests and warrant execution continuing throughout the day, there are at this time:

• Sixteen people detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 as amended for various criminal offences
• Twenty-eight people arrested under warrant
• Four people arrested on suspicion of committing an offence under section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, (sale and supply of controlled substances)
• Four vehicles seized in the operation
• Fourteen people charged with criminal offences, to appear before the courts.

While the Garda Press Office was unable to clarify which of these groups overlap, they were able to confirm that 45 people so far have been arrested.

The officer in charge of today’s operation Chief Superintendent Dominic Hayes of the Carlow/Kilkenny division paid tribute to the trainee gardaí.

“While providing an extra visible presence they gain valuable learning experience regarding the running of a major policing operation,” he said.

They also get to observe the execution of warrants, arrests of suspects, prisoner management, conducting of checkpoints and community engagement.