A number of stolen vehicles - believed to be destined for export to West Africa - have been recovered by Gardai as part of Operation Waste.
Since its inception in September 2014 the operation has seen over 50 vehicles - including cars and articulated trucks - detained for either no insurance or no certificate of roadworthiness.
Three stolen vehicles - an Audi - a Toyota Avensis and a Mercedes - were recovered before they could be exported along with 11 others parked in communal areas of housing and industrial estates where it's believed they were being prepared for export.
Most of the vehicles had been stolen during the course of burglaries where the keys had been fished out through the letterboxes of homes.
Gardai are reminding people to keep their keys stored in a secure place.