A SENIOR figure in a feuding crime gang in Dublin has been caught with a 3D printed firearm.
The suspect – who was wearing a bulletproof vest – was with another man when he was stopped by Gardai as he entered a taxi in the Turvey Avenue area of Inchicore at 8pm on Tuesday night.
As officers from the Community Engagement unit at Kilmainham Garda station searched the suspect after discovering a “strong smell of cannabis“, the weapon fell from the ballistic vest.
The suspect was arrested and the weapon seized.
One theory is that it was ordered on the darknet.
Both men are known to Gardai and have previously been targeted by their rivals in petrol bombings and drive-by shootings.
One source said: “Both of these suspects are currently involved in a feud that has already seen a lot of violent incidents.
“It looks as if they are using 3D printed weapons to target their rivals.
“Gardai suspect that the main suspect was planning to use the weapon on a rival.”
The seizure was welcomed by the Gardai’s Assistant Commissioner for Dublin Paul Cleary.
AC Cleary said: “I want to acknowledge and commend the work of two uniform members of An Garda Siochana yesterday evening going about their duties diligently and proactively.
“This was a timely intervention likely to have saved lives or prevented serious injury and is another dangerous firearm which has been taken off the streets of Dublin.
‘ON DUTY 24 HOURS A DAY’
“Gardai across the Dublin region are on duty 24 hours a day, supporting local communities and working hard on the An Garda Siochana mission of keeping people safe.”
The Irish Sun can also reveal a second firearm was recovered by Gardai in recent days.
On that occasion, the weapon was found in the south inner city on Sunday night by the Serious Crime Unit in the Gardai’s South Central Division.
