Gardaí have moved in against teenage suspects they believe are hijacking and robbing cyclists and other greenway users on the Grand Canal Greenway in Dublin (Photo: Garda)
Gardaí have carried out searches at 10 properties and arrested two teenagers as part of an investigation into the hijacking and robbery of cyclists and other greenway users on a popular stretch of greenway in Dublin.
The Garda ‘day of action’ was carried out yesterday as part of a special investigation, codenamed Operation Meacán. It came in response to a series of attacks and robberies on the Grand Canal Greenway.
Some cyclists have been forced to a stop on the greenway, often by masked attackers, and had their bikes and personal belongings stolen.
Officers from the 'Serious Crime South' and 'Community Engagement Clondalkin' conducted a "high intensity policing operation" along the Grand Canal Greenway between Killeen Road, Dublin 10 and Grangecastle, Dublin 22, yesterday.
"The Grand Canal Greenway is a busy route used by walkers, runners and commuters on bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters," the Garda Depot in Phoenix Park, Dublin, said in a statement.
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"In response to hi-jacking incidents of vehicles along the Grand Canal Greenway, gardaí have been engaged in a combination of covert and proactive patrols to identify suspects."
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The 'day of action' was part of an operation established to target suspects using electric vehicles such as e-motorcycles which are being used for criminal activity including drug dealing, money laundering, transporting firearms
The Garda added: “(Yesterday) gardaí executed 10 search warrants at domestic residences in Ballyfermot, Clondalkin, Kilmainham and Lucan.
"During the course of the operation, gardaí seized two electric bicycles suspected to be stolen, two e-scooters suspected to be used during robberies.
“(Also seized were) three electric bicycle batteries with the serial numbers removed, electronic devices of evidential value and a bank card believed to have been stolen."
The gardaí involved in the operation also arrested two juveniles. They were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Garda stations in Dublin West.
In a follow-up statement last night, gardaí said the two teenagers had been charged with unspecified crimes and had already appeared in court.
"The high intensity policing operation is a targeted collaborative approach by Serious Crime South Detective Units and Crime Task Force, supported by Clondalkin Community Engagement intended to meet the objectives of Operation Meacán," the Garda added.
The aim of Operation Meacán is to tackle the use of electric vehicles such as e-motorcycles which are being used for criminal activity including drug dealing, money laundering, transporting firearms, drug related intimidation and other serious offences.
