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Irish banks have frozen Al-Qaeda assets of over €1 million

Money from Iran, Syria, Somalia and North Korea has also been frozen by Irish banks.

MINISTER FOR FINANCE Michael Noonan has said that groups with ties to Al-Qaeda have had more than €1.1 million frozen in bank accounts in Ireland.

He also confirmed that around €1.5 billion of funds owned by entities linked to Libya were frozen in several Irish bank accounts.

There was also money linked to groups in Iran, Syria, Somalia and North Korea either frozen, blocked or refused in Ireland

Noonan was responding to a written Dáil question from Fianna Fáil’s Michael McGrath.

McGrath had asked for a breakdown by financial institution of the accounts frozen here, but Noonan said the Central Bank had advised that it was not possible to do so because of confidentiality laws.

Ireland was complying with EU directives on this issue, the Minister added.

He said: “EU Regulations commonly include an obligation for funds and other assets to be frozen without delay and not made available to listed sanctioned individuals or entities.”

The Central Bank is the body in charge of enforcing these financial sanctions, and failure to comply with the EU’s regulations is met with what Noonan called “appropriate penalties”.

The figures provided by Noonan were correct as of the end of 2016.

Read: Here’s where terrorist groups like Islamic State and Al Qaeda get their money

Read: Donald Trump is not backing down over comments being used to recruit Islamic extremists

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51 Comments
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    Mute James
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:13 PM

    Somebody’s weekend is fcuked

    92
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    Mute Ballsnall
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    Jul 25th 2013, 2:43 AM

    Mine an all

    3
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    Mute harry ford
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:25 PM

    As there was a potential loss of €9000 does that mean that the price of cigarettes is 75% tax?

    58
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    Mute Niall Mullins
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    Jul 24th 2013, 8:13 PM

    Yes… if not more!

    26
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    Mute Niall Murray
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    Jul 24th 2013, 11:14 PM

    As little as €15 per 200 fags in Lanzarote. Nearly €10 per 10 here… ;)

    11
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    Mute John Paul O'Callaghan
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    Jul 24th 2013, 8:12 PM

    So 3,000 euro of vodka would make 14,000 euro for the government. How are we in debt with economics like that?

    32
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    Mute Eamon
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:40 PM

    So its real cash, real cigarettes and counterfeit Vodka! I’d never have guessed them in that order.

    31
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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:08 PM

    As I said before. Legal, regulated and taxed. And still criminals smuggle them.

    27
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    Mute GorillaGrower
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:24 PM

    Because of the crazy amount of tax !!

    36
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    Mute Mr Jingles
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:27 PM

    And you think weed won’t be any different?

    21
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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:32 PM

    And you think legalized Drugs would be any less taxed? And that criminals would say ho hum pack up and do something else?

    19
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    Mute Superior Dublin
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:15 PM

    Sh*t… Where will I get my counterfeit vodka now?

    27
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    Mute Paul Madigan
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:14 PM

    Never thought I’d say this but I’m off to louth

    24
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    Mute Morticia
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:31 PM

    Its the bleary eyes and cough that gives the smugglers away each time.

    20
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    Mute SilentFugitive
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:06 PM

    What happens to the cash in these situations?

    17
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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:11 PM

    After the trial. And if there is a conviction the money goes to the Government as its proceeds of crime.

    23
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    Mute Gerard Walsh
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:57 PM

    Balbriggan garda station, for safe keeping.:)

    105
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    Mute Fran ner
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    Jul 24th 2013, 8:15 PM

    Rats out

    17
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    Mute Tyrone Mc Eleney
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    Jul 25th 2013, 7:03 AM

    Does it not go to the CAB Mick if its the proceeds of crime,I for one wouldn’t go near real vodka never mind counterfeit vodka meant to full of nasty chemicals,I no of students that I no over in England that drink it because its £5 a bottle and been a student they have no choice to buy and drink it cuz there on a tight budget,over there the off licence sells it to you from under the counter,everything is mostly counterfeit these days because theres a demand for it,and the government taxes the ass out of everything that moves its the governments fault as well partly cuz the more they keep taxing the more demand for counterfeit goods,that’s my opinion on it,sure there selling counterfeit chainsaws which are dangerous at the best of times,anyways that’s my rant over goodbye……….

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    Mute Jamie Ryder
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    Jul 24th 2013, 11:27 PM

    The gathering cancelled

    17
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    Mute John Deane
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:58 PM

    Looking at that money I wish I could get a loan :)

    16
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    Mute Superior Dublin
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    Jul 24th 2013, 9:06 PM

    I hate you

    2
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    Mute Rayne Brogan
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:16 PM

    Um.. What exactly is counterfeit vodka?

    14
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    Mute Kevin Manley
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:20 PM

    Are you taking the piss?

    11
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    Mute Rayne Brogan
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:24 PM

    Is it paint thinner or something? Cuz they sell that in Tesco and call it value vodka..

    54
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    Mute CAPT. ADEBAYO FLYNN
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    Jul 24th 2013, 8:11 PM

    Hi Rayne, apparently it’s homemade madness. Meth spirits and all sorts in it, probably some vodka too just to ‘water’ it down so to speak. You hear stories of lads going blind and getting very, very sick from a sesh on this stuff. I know some Eastern European pals who were telling me about the vats of stuff that would be made back home. Wild.

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    Mute Patrick
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    Jul 24th 2013, 9:13 PM

    Yup that vodka is extremely dangerous its well known in Russia.

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    Mute john ferguson
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    Jul 24th 2013, 9:15 PM

    You can be sure that cash will not be secure in a garda safe.

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Jul 24th 2013, 7:28 PM

    The vodka is rot gutt!

    9
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    Mute Warren Collier
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    Jul 24th 2013, 11:35 PM

    Is the headline name what Charlie sheen eats for his breakfast?

    7
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    Mute Fergus Gaffney
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    Jul 25th 2013, 1:59 AM

    Congratulations must go again to the Gardai who have again kicked carreer criminals where it hurts. Hopefully there wil be many many more similar seizures.

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    Mute Ballsnall
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    Jul 25th 2013, 2:45 AM

    Ah jasus give us a break , I’m back on the Rollie’s now and will be forced to drink turps again after this bust .
    This shite is killing me .

    5
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