THE Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), in conjunction with English police, today carried out an operation in Counties Clare and Tipperary as part of a cyber-fraud and money laundering investigation in the UK.
The CAB investigation is focussed on the assets of an international organised crime group who are suspected of laundering the proceeds of mandate fraud committed in the UK via a used car outlet in County Tipperary.
Searches were conducted at two residential premises and one business premises in County Clare, and two residential and one business premises in County Tipperary. The search of the one business premises in County Tipperary, a used car outlet, remains ongoing.
In excess of 80 cars were seized with an approximate value of €2,000,000, along with cash in the amount of €21,000. Also more than €200,000 has been restrained in financial accounts linked to the organised criminal group.
This morning’s search operation involved CAB, the Emergency Response Unit, the Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit, the Garda National Immigration Bureau, the Garda Technical Bureau and were assisted by the Revenue Customs Dog Unit.
Chief Bureau Officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Gubbins said “Today’s search operation is an example of the ongoing cooperation between the Criminal Assets Bureau, An Garda Síochána and UK Police Forces in the investigation of International Organised Criminal Groups. Our activities are in furtherance of the CAB mission ‘to deny and deprive’.
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.