LAST UPDATE | 30 Jun 2020

CASH IN EXCESS of €1 million has been seized following search operations carried out by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) in Dublin and Wicklow today.

CAB officers carried out the searches this morning as part of an ongoing intelligence-led operation targeting foreign nationals involved in laundering the proceeds of crime accumulated by Irish-based organised crime groups.

Today’s operation took place in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and the Wicklow Division.

Thirteen sites – five business premises and eight residential addresses – were searched during the operation.

Vehicles, high-value goods and €733,499 in cash were seized. A further €301,594 in funds were frozen in Irish bank accounts.

Seven people have been arrested for money laundering offences contrary to section seven of the Criminal Justice Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010 and are currently being detained at garda stations across Dublin.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said the operation “marks a significant development in the Criminal Assets Bureau’s ongoing investigation into a criminal network involved in the laundering of funds for a number of national and international organised crime groups”.

The search operation was conducted by CAB, supported by the Emergency Response Unit and Regional Armed Support Units, and assisted by the Garda National Immigration Bureau, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, the Garda National Protective Services Bureau and local district detective units.

With reporting from Sean Murray