Roadway crime raids catch murder suspect

A LITHUANIAN man wanted for alleged murder was among a dozen suspects arrested here as part of an international swoop on road network crimes.

Operation Trivium, an elaborate Europewide series of raids, swung into action yesterday morning and is due to end tonight.

During the raids – led by TISPOL, the European traffic police network – gardaí also disrupted Irish and foreign criminals using the roads to target local communities.

Chief Superintendent Aiden Reid, of the Garda Traffic Corps, told the Irish Daily Mail that 26 cars had been seized and 12 people were arrested by 7pm yesterday, as part of the operation, which is going on in 12 counties. One of those arrested is wanted on foot of a European Arrest Warrant in Lithuania for alleged murder. It is understood this man will appear before the High Court this morning in connection with his extradition.

A driver was also arrested when an axe and pepper spray were found in his car, and another was held after drugs were found in his car. Three drink drivers and six disqualified drivers were also arrested. As of 7pm yesterday, 26 vehicles had been seized and a total of 153 incidents were logged. More arrests were expected overnight. As well as checkpoints, it is understood gardaí carried out raids and targeted the homes and establishments of known travelling criminals who use the road network to target vulnerable communities all over the country.

Mr Reid, this year’s president of TISPOL, told the Mail: ‘It is targeting both foreign and indigenous criminals. The Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau as well as National Support Services are involved. We also have gardaí in an incident room in the Hague.’