Gardaí have searched 13 premises and locations in Kilkenny as part of Operation Thor-Project Storm.

The investigations are looking into recent burglaries and robberies, as well as the sale and supply of controlled drugs.

The operation was run in Thomastown on Thursday and saw 24 people arrested.

Four of these arrests were on warrant, and 20 were for a range of offences.

These included theft, assault, fraud, burglary and under the Misuse of Drugs Acts.

Twelve people have been charged and will appear at local sittings of Kilkenny District Court in the coming weeks.

Gardaí say they monitored the activities of local criminals by means of checkpoints.

A total of 23 checkpoints were carried out.