A series of raids have been carried out across Cork in a crackdown on suspected dissident republicans.

A team of 60 detectives searched premises in the city and the north of the county.

Gardai said no arrests had been made, but several weapons, believed to be imitation firearms, were recovered along with a quantity of cash and a small amount of drugs.

Dissidents from the Real IRA in Cork last week issued death threats against drug dealers in the area.

The terror group has already claimed responsibility for the murder of 42-year-old Gerard Staunton last month.

In a statement issued through the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, it singled out another man who was given a six-year suspended sentence last year for a 250,000 euro heroin seizure - the biggest ever in the city.

The group also claimed mothers of addicts were being forced to take loans from credit unions to clear debts owed to dealers.

The death threats were issued on a flyer dropped in some bars in the city and county.

Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy acknowledged last month that dissidents have been active in the county.

Staunton was shot a number of times as he got into a car outside his home in the Westlawn in Wilton area of the city.