Thirty people have been arrested in a major garda operation targeting the sale and supply of heroin, cocaine and other controlled drugs in Dublin city.

The operation, codenamed Tempest, follows a six-month covert operation aimed at identifying people involved in the sale and supply of the drugs.

Gardaí said it was prompted by feedback from residents who engaged with community gardaí implementing the small areas community policy initiative in the north inner city.

The operation is expected to result in almost 100 charges connected with drugs sale and supply offences involving 45 individuals in the area.

Gardaí from the Bridewell, Mountjoy and Store Street Garda stations worked closely with members of the Garda National Drugs Unit with a view to gathering evidence against drug suppliers in the local communities.

Searches were conducted across the north inner city over recent days and suspects have been arrested and charged.

They are to appear in court on Thursday morning.

Operation Tempest is ongoing, with more than 100 gardaí involved, including officers from the Garda National Drugs Unit, the Emergency Response Unit, the Garda Air Support Unit and the Garda Dog Unit.

Chief Superintendent Patrick Leahy said: "This Operation is being led out by the Community Policing Gardaí attached to the North Central Division and is a direct response to community concerns identified during the door-to-door engagement by the Community Gardaí since January of this year.

"To date more the 8,000 residents of the north inner city have been interviewed by Community Gardai in an effort to provide a more community focused customer centred approach to policing in the area."