Crime Correspondent
Over one point €2 million worth of drugs have been seized and 20 people charged over a six month period this year as part of cross border investigations.
The Joint Agency Task Force enables law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border to co-operate in investigations into rural and financial crime, drugs, human trafficking, organised immigration offences and excise fraud.
The Agency's report published today says a Lithuanian Organised Crime Group selling heroin in Ireland was targeted and resulted in 65 searches and 18 arrests in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Lithuania and the seizure of over €700,000.
In a separate investigation eighteen potential victims of human trafficking targeted in Lithuania and brought to Ireland to sell drugs were also identified.