Limerick gang swoop cash haul rises to €250,000
The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) obtained 12 separate orders for the money, which included sterling and dollars, at Limerick District Court yesterday.
Drugs with a street value of €200,000 were also found during raids on more than 150 houses, offices and businesses.
Three men arrested have been released and files are being prepared for the DPP in relation to them.
As well as 120 private homes, up to 15 offices of solicitors, accountants and auctioneers in the greater Limerick area were raided by the CAB.
Seven shops known to be owned by feud gang members were also targeted.
Chief Superintendent Willie Keane said: “A sum of €25,000 in cash was found in one house. We are very pleased with the outcome of Operation Platinum, which involved 250 members of the force. It took a long time to plan and a lot of work was done on the ground by our own profile team here in Limerick, who fed on very important information to the CAB.
“It now is a question of following the money trail from the huge amount of documentation and computer material we have taken possession and which needs to be analysed. This will be a slow process.”
Limerick Labour TD Jan O’Sullivan has welcomed and congratulated all those involved in one of the biggest Garda operations undertaken outside of Dublin.
Ms O’Sullivan said: “The fact that the Criminal Assets Bureau played a central role in this operation re-affirms my publicly stated belief that seizing the assets of criminals through planned raids on houses and premises is extremely effective in combating criminal activity.”
Ms O’Sullivan added: “Introducing additional legislation which allows officers from CAB or the gardaí to search and seize documents or equipment from houses or business premises will bring further arrests and prosecutions.”
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