Gardaí have seized €1,500 worth of drugs, weapons including slash hooks and baseball bats, thousands of euro in cash, animals, suspected stolen caravans, e-scooters and e-scramblers following an operation at a halting site.

Officers attached to Cork City Garda Division began the search operation targeting criminal activity shortly before 9am yesterday, at the site near Mahon Point Shopping Centre outside Cork city.

They received support from members of the Armed Support Unit. Representatives of the National Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals also attended at the site.

Two ponies and a small number of dogs were taken from the site. They were removed due to welfare concerns.

A man in his twenties was arrested at the scene. He is being held at a Garda station in Cork city in connection with suspected drug dealing.

Heroin and crack cocaine were seized at the site.

The drugs will be examined by Forensic Science Ireland and it is understood the drugs were destined for the market in Cork.

About 60 gardaí were involved in the operation. This included members of the local drugs unit and the dog unit.

Gardaí are attempting to determine if the e-scooters and e-scramblers seized were being used in support of criminal activity.

It is understood the operation was intelligence-led and had been in planning for several weeks.