23-04-2025
Gardaí seize dozens of e-bikes and freeze related €100k bank account
Gardaí have seized almost 40 electric bikes in an operation targeting a supplier in Dublin and frozen almost €100,000 from one bank account linked to the business.
The raids are part of wider operation clamping down on the sale and use of scrambler e-bikes that are being used by criminals to supply and sell drugs, transport firearms and issue threats to families over drug debts.
Detectives are investigating an Eastern European national for supplying the bikes and are also investigating him for alleged money laundering. They are currently building a case against him.
The ongoing operation, codenamed Meacan, is being led by the Dublin South Region and Tuesday's operation searched a number of premises in the Tallaght and Ballyfermot areas.
Dublin City Council Joint Policing Committee chairman, Sinn Féin councillor Daithí Doolan, welcomed the operation.
'I want to take the opportunity to congratulate the Gardaí on this successful operation. I hope this action will encourage the public to come forward and contact the Gardaí to report criminal activity.
It is only by working together that we can make our communities safe, strong, and welcoming places to live.
"Yesterday's action will strengthen our resolve to stand up the criminals who think they are holding us all to ransom.'
It is understood the focus of the operation is an Eastern European national operating a business in Dublin selling e-bikes.
Dublin City Council Joint Policing Committee chairman, Sinn Féin councillor Daithí Doolan: 'I hope this action will encourage the public to come forward and contact the Gardaí to report criminal activity.' File picture: PA
Detectives suspect that 'huge amounts' of money are going through accounts under investigation. In Tuesday's operation almost €100,000 was frozen in just one account linked to the business.
It is thought that the business is in the name of a female associate.
Sources said scrambler e-bikes were a 'huge challenge' for gardaí across Tallaght and south west Dublin, not only because they are being used for criminal purposes but also because they are posing serious dangers to both pedestrians and motorists.
A statement from Garda HQ said: 'Gardaí from the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) South Division conducted a Day of Action yesterday, Tuesday 22 April 2025, targeting electric motorbikes suspected of being used in criminal activity.'
It said Operation Meacan was set up in December 2023 in the Dublin Metropolitan Region South and led by the Divisional Serious Crime Unit. They are being supported from the Community Engagement Unit and Community Policing Unit based in Tallaght, and the Divisional Roads Policing Unit.
'The aim of Operation Meacan is to tackle the use of electric motorbikes which are being used for criminal activity including drug dealing, money laundering, transporting firearms, drug related intimidation (DRI) and other serious offences,' the statement said.
'During yesterday's Day of Action, in an operation led by members attached to the Tallaght Fraud Unit and Tallaght Crime Unit, search warrants were executed at a number of locations in Dublin 10 and Dublin 24.
'These searches resulted in the seizure of 39 electric bikes, 15 helmets and 9 batteries, with an estimated value of over €130,000. One bank account, with an operational balance of over €99,000, was frozen under money laundering legislation.'
