Gardai arrested a male and a female carrying a loaded gun in Dublin earlier today.
The pair were travelling in a car that was stopped in Rathborne Village, Ashtown, Dublin 7, late this afternoon.
A silencer, a mask, and a can of petrol were also discovered inside the vehicle.
Gardai believe the two were a hit team on their way to carry out an assassination, possibly targeting a member of the Hutch gang.