Gardaí have swooped on five addresses in Dublin, as part of investigations into a suspected ice-cream van money laundering racket.

The raids happened yesterday on the south side of the city - but details are only emerging now.

It is understood the searches were part of an investigation into a well-known associate of a gangster shot in Spain last month.

The operation began at about 7am and involved gardaí from the Emergency Response Unit, the Criminal Assets Bureau and the Organised Crime Unit.

A number of computers and an estimated €40,000 was seized.

Residential homes - as well as a number of properties linked to solicitors and accountants - were also searched.

Crime reporter with the Irish Daily Mirror is Cathal McMahon. He says some ice cream vans are being linked with criminal activity.