Gardaí smash hi-tech counterfeit operation

GARDAÍ are to send a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to a sophisticated counterfeit operation.

A 49-year-old man was arrested by detectives in Dundalk, Co Louth, after they uncovered a massive, and highly-lucrative, forgery business.

The hi-tech operation involved manufacturing a range of forged documents, including driving licences, insurances certificates, tax discs and bank drafts.

“We are satisfied we have broken up this operation. It is the biggest counterfeiting operation we have come across,” said Detective Inspector Jim Sheridan of Dundalk Garda Station.

Gardaí yesterday put on display examples of the high-quality forgeries that were being produced. Officers found three computers, a number of typewriters as well as a large number of documentation when they raided a house at O’Hanlon Park in the town on Tuesday night.

A man was subsequently arrested and questioned for the maximum 12 hours at Dundalk Garda Station,before being released.

Det Insp Sheridan said gardaí set up an investigation about five months ago following the emergence of a number of forged licences and bank drafts in the area. The operation involved supplied fake documentation to criminal contacts in Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, Meath and as far as Dublin, as well as to Northern Ireland, who in turn sold them on to customers.

“We will be trying to track down people who bought the documentation and interview them,” said Det Insp Sheridan.

He said people were buying fake full drivers’ licences, with which they got substantially lower quotes from insurance companies.

He said that in one case they were aware of, the operators got a €10 bank draft, and using sophisticated computer technology turned it into a draft of €15,000.

“We can’t say yet how much money was being generated, but it was substantial. We estimate it was in operation for five to six months.”

He said it was the second such operation they had cracked in the last year.

Det Insp Sheridan said there was nothing to suggest the man they arrested had any links with the Real IRA or other paramilitaries.