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Image of some of the vehicles and jet-skis seized today

Rolex watches, jet-skis, vehicles and €218,000 in cash seized in CAB raids across five counties

The operation involved 150 people conducting searches at 20 locations across the country.

LAST UPDATE | 30 May

A MAJOR OPERATION today by the Criminal Assets Bureau has resulted in the seizure of Rolex watches, jet-skis, vehicles, and around €218,000 in cash.

The raids were carried out across counties Clare, Dublin, Limerick, Mayo and Tipperary as part of an ongoing CAB investigation into targets linked to a Munster-based organised crime group.

A garda spokesperson said this crime group is involved in laundering the proceeds of organised criminality through the second hand motor trade, real estate purchases, property developments and the purchase of high value goods.

The operation involved 150 people conducting searches at 20 locations, and CAB officers were assisted by branches including the Customs Dog Unit, the Regional Armed Response Unit, and the Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit.

During the raids, €218,000 in cash was seized, as well as five jet-skis, six Rolex watches, 27 vehicles and designer goods including Louis Vuitton bags.

445736106_866759112154610_2019066385890624381_n Image of some of the cash seized Garda Press Office Garda Press Office

Electronic devices and documentation, including financial documents, were also seized.

A suspected cocaine seizure was also made, and a person was arrested in connection with this seizure and they are currently detained at a Limerick city Garda Station.

A garda spokesperson said today’s operation “marks a significant development in CAB’s ongoing proceeds of crime investigation”.

Meanwhile, in separate searches carried out in Dublin and Kildare on Tuesday and Wednesday, gardaí seized over €260,000 in cash and four vehicles worth over €100,000.

One of the vehicles seized contained a specially made concealed compartment in the floor of the van which a garda spokesperson said was for transporting drugs, cash, and firearms.

This operation was part of ongoing investigations into the activities of a drug trafficking network based in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) and Eastern Region.

A total of 42 searches were conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday and while the majority of searches were undertaken in the DMR South, a number of searches were also conducted in the DMR West, DMR North Central, DMR South Central, and in Co. Kildare.

Close to €1110,000 of suspected zopiclone tablets and €4,000 of alprazolam tablets were also seized.

Bank drafts for €40,000, deeds for three Spanish properties and two cash counting machines were also seized.

Rolex and Tag Heuer watches were also located during these searches and seized, alongside over €50,000 of assorted designer clothing and footwear. 

A man has been arrested in connection with this operation and he is currently being detained at a Garda Station in the Dublin Region.

A garda spokesperson said investigations are ongoing.

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Diarmuid Pepper
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