Operation Hyphen was part of the Garda Síochána's ongoing investigation of illegal immigration into the State as well as the tracing of evaders of deportation orders. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the operation took place in the Dublin metropolitan region on 16 July 2002 and elsewhere in the State on 23 July 2002.
Some 200 gardaí were involved in the operation in the Dublin metropolitan region and approximately 400 outside the Dublin region for a number of hours. Approximately 294 premises were visited in all. A total of 140 persons were detained. Some 16 were detained for evasion of deportation orders, of which 15 were deported and one was released for medical reasons and will be deported when that is resolved. A total of 74 others were charged with immigration related offences and one sought asylum. The remainder were released without charge on proof of satisfactory identity.
The persons arrested were treated in the same way as irregular migrants arrested at any other time. It is not possible to report on what exact offence under the immigration laws each person was charged with or what has happened to each since their arrest without the deployment of disproportionate time and resources. However, a substantial number are believed to have left the State voluntarily. Certain others regularised their immigration status in the State.
