A top republican was at the centre of a massive security operation linked to a major investigation into organised crime on both sides of the border today.

Cash seized in money-laundering raids is part of the IRA’s £26m (€37.9m) Northern Bank robbery, the head of the Gardaí said today.

THE raids on €44 million worth of suspected IRA property in Manchester could impede the North’s peace process, senior unionists have warned.

The British Assets Recovery Agency has doubled its investigative staff as part of a developing offensive against crime bosses in Northern Ireland, it was revealed tonight.

Luxury homes and cars have been seized in an offensive against a family running an alleged international smuggling operation, it emerged today.