Garda: No criminal intent on ‘safe’ Russian mortar destined for NI

Garda said they attended an incident at Dublin Port at Dublin Port this morning at 1am.

“Revenue and Customs officers carrying out a routine profile on incoming port traffic stopped an Eastern European registered van, on closer inspection a mortar launcher was being transported in the van,” a Garda spokesman said.

Local Gardai, assisted by the Special Detective Unit attended.

Irish Defence Forces bomb disposal unit were brought in and subsequently confirmed the mortar launcher to be “safe” and that no munitions were present, Garda said.

“The weapon is currently being examined by the Ballistics section, Garda Technical Bureau. The driver of the vehicle, a female in her 20’s was arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 and detained at Store Street Garda Station.

“An Garda Síochána has carried out enquiries with the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

“At this time An Garda Síochána is satisfied that there was no Criminal intent in the importation of what is a decommissioned Russian manufactured 82mm KRH 36Y mortar launcher, which appears to be destined for a private collection in Northern Ireland. An Garda Síochána continues to investigate the importation of this firearm into this jurisdiction.”

The BBC reported that the van was Eastern European-registered and that the area was cordoned off while the Irish army bomb disposal team was called to the scene.

RTE reported that the mortar was found as part of a routine customs check, but the officers suspicions were also raised when a mortar launcher was declared on importation documentation.

They detained the driver, who was a foriegn national woman in her 20s, and called gardaí. RTE she said she was a courier in a liveried van and that Gardai believe the weapon was ordered online for a private collector in Northern Ireland.

She is being held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, where she can be held for up to three days and could be charged.

RTE said Gardaí are liaising also with the PSNI to see if the weapon was ordered by an authorised firearms dealer for a bona fide weapons collector.

Update: Garda said on Thursday night that the woman has been released from Garda custody and that enquiries remain ongoing at this time.

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