Gardai in Cork have carried out a number of early morning searches as part of an on-going investigation into dissident and criminal activity.

The searches were carried out in Cork city by the Cork North garda division.

A team of detectives from across the city are involved in the operation.

Dissidents from the Real IRA in Cork last week issued death threats against drug dealers in the area.

The terror group has already claimed responsibility for the murder of 42-year-old Gerard Staunton last month.

In a statement issued through the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, it singled out another man who was given a six-year suspended sentence last year for a €250,000 heroin seizure – the biggest ever in the city.

The group also claimed mothers of addicts were being forced to take loans from credit unions to clear debts owed to dealers.

The death threats were issued on a flyer dropped in some bars in the city and county.

Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy acknowledged last month that dissidents have been active in the county.

Staunton was shot a number of times as he got into a car outside his home in the Westlawn in Wilton area of the city.