64 people have been arrested as part of a Garda crackdown on crime in the Kilkenny/Carlow Division.

Searches were carried out at 30 premises - 29 houses and one business premises - as part of Operation Thor.

22 people were detained under Section 4 of Criminal Justice Act, 1984 for a range of matters such as theft, assault, fraud, misuse of drugs and burglary offences.

Nine people have appeared before sittings of Carlow and Kilkenny District courts.

Properties were searched in the Kilkenny city, Urlingford and Castlecomer areas.

Drugs - including heroin, ecstasy, cannabis, cocaine & amphetamine - worth €34,000 were seized during the operation.

A growhouse was discovered in Castlecomer, and cannabis worth €4,000 seized.

In Kilkenny city, a handgun was also seized.

60 checkpoints were carried out across the area over the course of today.

130 gardaí were involved, as well as 50 student gardaí.

Chief Superintendent Dominic Hayes said: "Criminals will be deterred from committing crime in an area perceived as being heavily policed. This operation will also assist in the detection of criminal offences through proactive policing activities."