The Justice Minister Dermot Ahern says no border will protect those involved in organised crime.

It follows the arrests of 26 people across Ireland, the UK and Spain, as part of international operation against a major drugs trafficking gang.

The operation began at 4:30am this morning, and is targeting the drug trafficking and money laundering activities of a major Dublin criminal gang.

Over 600 police officers from across Spain, Belguim, Ireland the UK were involved in the investigation.

At least nine searches have taken place across the UK and 11 people there have been arrested.

While in Spain, there’s been 11 searches and 16 people arrested.

Among them,  the criminal this investigation is targeting – a man in his 50′s who is a convicted drug dealer now living in Spain.

Here, 17 searches have taken place across Dublin and Meath.

One man was arrested in Dublin’s North inner City and he has been taken to Store Street Garda Station for questioning.

The Justice Minister Dermot Ahern is welcoming today’s arrests, saying no border will protect those involved in organised crime.

While the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy says today’s operation shows there is no hiding place for those who seek to bring misery and hurt to communities here in Ireland and abroad.