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Dublin Port was sealed off in a major security incident after a mortar launcher was discovered there this morning.
The weapon was discovered in the back of a truck by customs agents when they stopped a courier as he was passing through the port around 1 a.m.
The local gardai, a Special Detective Unit, and the Army’s Bomb Disposal Team rushed to the scene before closing the port for hours.
The Soviet 82mm mortar launcher was declared safe around 5:30 am and no ammunition was discovered.
The weapon is currently being examined by the ballistics team at the Garda Technical Office.
The courier, a woman in her 20s, has been arrested under section 30 of the Crimes Against the State Act 1939 and detained at Garda Station on Store Street.
It is understood that the mortar was intended for a collector in Northern Ireland and there was no criminal intent involved in its importation.
A Garda spokesperson said: “An Garda Síochána has carried out investigations with the Northern Ireland Police Service.
“At this time, An Garda Síochána is convinced that there was no criminal intent in importing what is a Russian-made KRH 36Y 82mm 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.”
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