Seizure of criminals’ assets may follow €2m counterfeit swoop
Senior officers estimate the gang earns several hundred thousand euro in profit each year from the trade.
The Garda investigation team had to hire a warehouse yesterday to store the massive consignment of counterfeit goods seized.
Chief Supt John O’Mahony of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) — which led the operation — said that while the haul had an initial estimated value of €2 million, he expected the final value to “rise considerably”.
He said 23 searches were carried out yesterday in Dublin, concentrating on the south inner-city and south city areas.
Places raided included houses, factories, warehouses and various sales outlets. Financial institutions and the offices of accountants and solicitors were also raided, although gardaí said there was no criminality alleged against these professional bodies.
Chief Supt O’Mahony said more than 15 people were targeted in the operation and the vast majority came from the areas targeted. The CAB operation was conducted with the assistance of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) and the Revenue Customs Service.
“This is the result of an ongoing operation targeting people involved in crimes of copyright and the production and sale of counterfeit good,” said Chief Supt O’Mahony.
“Our role (in CAB) is the targeting of assets deriving from this activity.”
He said the NBCI, which is continually targeting gangs involved in counterfeiting, would bring any prosecutions that may arise.
“The next phase will be identifying the products, identifying the assets of people involved in criminality, and look at arrests down the road and subsequently criminal charges,” he said.
It is understood gardaí are satisfied they will be able to bring prosecutions against a number of people.
The investigation is continuing and the process is expected to take some time before files are completed for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Items seized in the operation include a large range of clothing, including designer suits and sportswear, including brands Lacoste, Armani and Nike, as well as footwear, sunglasses and DVDs.
Officers seized computer equipment involved in the mass production of counterfeit DVDs.
Chief Supt O’Mahony believes the majority of the counterfeit clothes and footwear were imported. The items were sold on at markets, in various outlets and on the street.
Chief Supt O’Mahony said Garda units and customs were continually targeting the counterfeit trade and last year more than €5m worth of fake goods were seized.
He said he expected yesterday’s operation to be “one of the most significant seizures” to date.
He urged consumers to buy in reputable stores.
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