The 11 searches took place in the capital as well as six other counties in Ireland
18:31, 24 Feb 2026Updated 18:31, 24 Feb 2026
Clothing believed to be associated with the Black Axe crime gang(Image: An Garda Siochana)
Gardai have carried out a series of raids against one of the most notorious organised crime gangs in the world.
As part of Operation SKEIN, which targets the Black Axe crime group, the searches were carried out across Dublin, Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Kilkenny, Kildare and Meath. Clothing items identifying gang affiliation and rank were found, and it follows three searches which took place in 2025.
The Black Axe was established in Nigeria in the 70s and is known for crimes including cybercrime, election fraud, human trafficking and illegal drug trading. They are under investigation worldwide by law enforcement bodies including Europol and Interpol.
A garda spokesman said: “During the course of the operation, Gardai seized a number of electronic devices of evidential value. In addition to these devices, Gardaí recovered a number of clothing items which are believed to denote affiliation, rank and loyalty in the organised crime group.
Clothing believed to be associated with the Black Axe crime gang(Image: An Garda Siochana)
“As part of Operation SKEIN, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau continues to work closely with law-enforcement partners across several jurisdictions and is supported in its efforts by Europol and Interpol. This coordinated international approach reflects the scale and sophistication of the criminal network under investigation. Investigations are ongoing.”
Gardai have discovered 1,400 potential suspects involved in the theft and laundering of €94 million since 2020. More than 636 people have been arrested as part of this operation, with over half charged with gangland offences as well as money laundering.
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