Police chiefs issue warning to cross-border criminals
Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy and PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde have promised to intensify the crackdown on cross-border crime.
The two police chiefs told a cross-border conference on organised crime that their two forces were having a significant success in tackling organised crime including smuggled and contraband cigarettes, videos and counterfeit goods and they warned those involved of greater co-operation in the future.
The Garda Commissioner also said he agreed with the latest report of the Independent Monitoring Commission that the IRA was no longer involved in organised crime or paramilitary activity.
But Noel Conroy admitted there was always a danger that former IRA men would get involved in crime but he said the organisation as a whole was no longer active.
The Commissioner added that a file on the Northern Bank Robbery has been sent the DPP and he was confident the cash recovered in the Republic was linked to that raid.
Noel Conroy said while no clear cut forensic links had been made with cash discovered in the Republic he was confident forensic and witness evidence taken together would establish such a link.
