Gardaí have swooped on 10 Albanian men in eight different counties in connection with a series of burglaries that took place in the south east region over an 18-month period.
Those arrested range in age from 30 to 44 years and the men are all of Albanian nationality.
The major investigation into some 50 burglaries was codenamed Operation Crake, and began four months ago.
A number of searches were carried out on Tuesday morning this week as part of the ongoing intelligence-led operation targeting organised crime in the south and south east regions which led to the arrests of the men.
"The specific investigations concerned a large number of similar burglaries that occurred at various business premises in counties Kilkenny, Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford in a period spanning October 2008 and May 2010," a Garda spokesman said.
Several post offices, bars and filling stations were targeted in these raids and Gardai have been working to solve the crimes which were highly organised and orchestrated.
Ten men were arrested and detained at Waterford, Thurles, Thomastown, New Ross, Mallow and Cahir Garda Stations under section 50 of The Criminal Justice Act. They can be held for up to seven days.
