Gardaí have foiled what appears to have been an attempted gangland hit in Dublin.

Officers stopped two vehicles in the Artane area of the city on Saturday as a result of an intelligence-led operation.

Three men - aged in their 20s, 40s and 50s - were arrested and a gun was seized.

They are being held under Section 30 of the Offences Against The State Act at Garda stations across the city.

Detective Chief Superintendent Angela Willis is head of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

She said: "The seizure of firearms and the arrest of those who are prepared to use them to take life is a priority for the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau."

While Assistant Commissioner John O'Driscoll added: "I have no doubt that this operation has prevented a firearm being used to take life and enabled the Garda Síochána to keep people safe."