LENUTA ANDREEA CUCORANU, 29, a Romanian woman with no fixed address but who has been living in Ireland for 12 years, was arrested following a “complex” operation by detectives from the Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit in the Garda National Protective Services Bureau.

Detectives charged her last year with 16 offences from 2020 to 2023. There were three counts of organised prostitution in Dublin and Louth and three more for brothel keeping contrary to the Sexual Offences Act, four charges of using false instruments under the Theft & Fraud Act, and six money laundering offences.

In February, gardaí brought 93 more charges against her.

The extra counts are 17 for organised prostitution, 17 for brothel-keeping allegations, 11 for money laundering, seven for thefts, 40 for using false documents, and one for participation in a criminal organisation from 2016 to 2023 in Meath, Wicklow and Kildare.

She was then granted €25,000 bail. Following a two-month adjournment, she appeared again at Dublin District Court, where Judge Gerard Jones granted the State additional time to complete a book of evidence.

The organised crime offence can carry a sentence of up to 15 years; the other charges carry maximum sentences ranging from five to 14 years.

Detective Garda Michelle Woods said the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided that Ms Curcoranu must face “trial on indictment” at a higher level.

The State must serve a book of evidence on her before the District Court grants a return for trial order. Legal aid has been given to Ms Cucoranu, who is still to indicate a plea.

An earlier bail hearing was told the accused allegedly leased properties for organised prostitution and operating brothels.

Detective Sergeant Andrew Lambe said the woman allegedly used false documents to secure leases from landlords. The court heard that the brothels ran simultaneously, there was CCTV evidence, and individual prostitutes had provided statements.

Detective Sergeant Lambe claimed that she transferred more than €12,000 to landlords, but the accused had no legitimate source of income.

He described the investigation as “complex and protracted”.

He had said the case involved more than 45 witnesses who were described as people working in the sex trade or landlords of multiple properties subject to this investigation.

The court heard she had relatives in Ireland and proposed to reside in Irishtown, Straffan, Co. Kildare.