Gardaí and customs in Cork have foiled a plan to smuggle guns to an organised crime gang after they seized two weapons and arrested a man for questioning about the arms find.

Gardaí together with customs officers raided a number of houses in the White's Cross area outside Cork city early yesterday morning and recovered two handguns and a small quantity of ammunition

Gardaí believe the guns and ammunition had been delivered in recent days to the Cork addresses by legitimate couriers who were unaware of what they were delivering.

Gardaí arrested an Irishman in his 20s at one of the locations and he was brought to Cobh Garda Station for questioning about the firearms and ammunition.

The man was detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act which allows gardaí hold suspects for up to a maximum of seven days.

The two guns and ammunition have been sent for forensic analysis by garda ballistics experts in Dublin but gardaí do not believe they were used in the commission of any offences in Ireland.