Gardaí have arrested eight people as part of the Irish strand of TISPOL (European traffic police network) "Operation Trivium".

The operation has been targeting organised crime and criminals from foreign countries who are operating in Ireland and who "are using the road network to target local communities," the Garda press office have said.

The operation involves numerous checkpoints around the country, as well as targeting offenders "utilising all available legislation," a garda statement said.

The operation is also aimed at improving pan-European co-operation.

So far 13 vehicles have been seized