Emergency Response Unit officers responded to a tiger kidnapping incident at Dublin Airport this morning.
A man, his wife and their daughter were kidnapped from their home in the Gracefield Road area of Artane, Dublin 5 at 5am this morning.
The mother and daughter were taken and driven around, before they were tied up and kept in the back of a van at a location in Dunboyne in Meath.
The father was forced to drive a GSLS cash-security van to Dublin Airport with gang members inside the vehicle.
A sum of money, reported to be over €200,000 is understood to have been handed over to the kidnappers.
The story was broken at 9am, but a request for a media blackout from the Garda press Office was observed until lunchtime.
It is believed that the gang made their getaway before ERU officers arrived on the scene.
There are no reports of arrests at this stage.
"Gardai in Colock have launched an investigation following the false imprisonment and abduction of a family from the Gracefield road, Artane area and subsequent theft of a substantial sum of money from a cash in transit vehicle," a garda spokesman said.
"At around 5am this morning the 3rd of December 2015 two female occupants were taken from their home at Gracefield road in a white/Silver VW Caddy van partial registration number 09D which was driven around for a number of hours and found by Gardai.
"Both females were tied and bound in the back of this van in the vicinity of Chestnut Grove estate, Dunboyne, Co. Meath
"At the same time the male occupant of the house was forced to attend work at his place of employment with a cash in transit company and forced to hand over a substantial sum of money in the vicinity of Corballis Road Business Park, Dublin Airport."
"Any suspicious activity between the Artane Roundabout, Gracefield Road and its environs,
"Any suspicious activity in respect of a 09D Volkswagen Caddy Silver/White at Gracefield Road, Artane, Chesnut Grove, Dunboyne or between those locations.
"Gardaí are also appealing for information on a small white box type van which was parked in the vicinity of Corballis Road Business Park, Dublin Airport between 7am and 8.30am on today’s date.
Fortunately, the victims involved did not suffer any physical injury but are traumatised by the events.
Gardai are appealing for the public's assistance in respect of suspicious activity in a number of specific locations between the hours of 8pm.
They are appealing for anybody who may have witnesses any suspicious activity in respect of the aforementioned vehicle in the areas mentioned.
Gardaí are also appealing for information on a small white box type van which was parked in the vicinity of Corballis Road Business Park between 7am and 8.30am today.
An incident room has been set up at Coolock Garda Station and anyone with information is asked to contact gardai on 01-6664200 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.