Gardai smashed a major sale and distribution network for deadly samurai swords when a series of lightning raids uncovered a massive horde of 7,000 of the weapons.

Two Chinese men later presented themselves to gardai for interview. They were released and a file is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The swords were in small boxes which were packed inside larger cardboard boxes. Some boxes had "China" printed on the sides as well as Chinese characters.

Gardai made their move last Monday and swooped on a number of premises in the north inner city area of Dublin. The operation was carried out by gardai in the Bridewell station.

The raids were launched by members from the Crime Prevention Unit, backed up by the District Detective Unit, Divisional Crime Task Force and the Neighbourhood Policing Unit.

Acting on intelligence information gardai got search warrants for their target buildings. But it was when they raided one particular premises in the Smithfield area of the city that they hit the jackpot. Gardai could hardly believe the size of the huge horde of swords that were stored inside.

The majority of the weapons were found in the one building. A number of air rifles were also seized.

A garda spokesman confirmed that two men, in their 20s, were interviewed at the Bridewell garda station and later released.

The discovery of the samurai swords was one of the biggest ever seizure of the weapons. The garda investigation is ongoing.

Irish Independent