"Arrests are expected."

Gardaí continued Operation Ketch this week by carrying out 14 searches nationwide between 22-25 July. According to a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána: "At each location Gardaí seized digital material for forensic examination. A childlike sex doll was also seized at one of the locations. "There were no arrests planned during this phase of the investigation and follow up searches will be carried out over the coming days. Arrests are expected as individual investigations progress." The searches were carried out across six counties, with half of the searches taking place in Dublin. Searches were also carried out in Cork, Waterford, Meath, Galway and Monaghan. The searches were carried out by local Divisional Protection Service Units and Detective Units. Operation Ketch has been ongoing since February 2018, and is specifically dedicated to crimes relating to the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998. The Gardaí is said that it is liaising with TUSLA, the Child & Family Agency in relation to any child protection concerns that have arisen from the operation. Anyone with information on such crimes is asked to come forward and contact their local Garda Station or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111. So far, more than 200 addresses across Ireland have been searched, including 72 this year. 137 addresses were searched in 2018.