Over €2 million worth of vehicles have been seized by CAB and UK police as part of an operation targeting criminal activity in Clare and Tipperary.
The Criminal Assets Bureau, along with Police Officers from the Economic Crime Bureau attached to West Midlands Police, targeted a number of individuals as part of a cyber-fraud and money laundering investigation in the UK.
In Clare, searches were conducted at two residential premises and one business premises, and there were other searches carried out at locations in Tipperary.
Over 80 cars worth around 2 million euro seized, along with 21 thousand euro in cash, while financial accounts with over 200,000 in funds have been frozen.
The seatches are ongoing.
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An Garda Síochana have issued the following press release:
CAB Seized over €2 million worth of vehicles as part of Operation Bagana
The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), in conjunction Police Officers from the Economic Crime Bureau attached to West Midlands Police in the United Kingdom, 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.
So far this morning the following has been seized:
· In excess of 80 Cars with an approximate value of €2,000,000
· Cash in the amount of €21,000
· In excess of €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.
Speaking about today’s operation the 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’.
