CAB freezes €15m worth of crime assets
Suspected gangsters had assets worth almost €15m frozen or seized by investigators last year, it was revealed today.
The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) said it obtained interim and final restraint orders to the value of more than €7.5m.
Another €6m was collected in taxes and interest while investigations led to social welfare savings and recoveries of more than one million euro.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said the figures showed the agency played a significant role in the fight against organised crime.
“In a year where organised crime continued to pose a serious threat to our communities, the Criminal Assets Bureau has again demonstrated the effectiveness of the multi-agency and partnership approach in targeting the proceeds of such criminal conduct,” he said.
Mr Ahern said CAB was continuing to target up-and-coming and mid-ranking criminals.
It was also working in close co-operation with international law enforcement agencies, he said.
The latest recoveries bring to €114m the value of assets frozen and seized since CAB was set up in 1996, in the wake of the gangland murder of journalist Veronica Guerin.
