CAB shifts focus to middle-ranking criminals

THE Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) seized almost €10 million in assets in 2007 as part of a policy shift towards targeting middle- ranking criminals.

Community organisations welcomed the crackdown on local dealers and called for CAB money to be put back into communities — a call supported by Fine Gael.

The crackdown has accelerated this year, with a massive expansion — from 28 to 80 — in the number of divisional CAB profilers across the country targeting local criminals.

In addition to asset seizure, the bureau made a record €19m tax demand in 2007 and collected €10m which was handed to the state. A further €551,000 was made in social welfare savings.

In its 2007 annual report, CAB said it increased by almost 50% the number of court applications for interim seizure orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

“This demonstrates a policy shift towards earlier or preliminary applications, focused on lower value assets,” said detective chief superintendent John O’Mahony, the head of CAB.

“The approach tends to target a more middle ranking criminal and, while it may not realise extensive funds, illustrates the bureau’s ability to react to local community concerns”.

He told the Irish Examiner: “We’re working with local gardaí and our own divisional profilers to look at local individuals and see what impact they are having locally.”

He said many of these individuals were “flaunting their wealth” in their communities. But he added: “This is a shift in focus. We still have to keep a solid eye on the big guys”.

Community drug organisations welcomed the shift.

“Generally the big people tend to move out of the areas affected and local people are more aware of the so-called middle ranking dealers,” said Anna Quigley of the CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign.

“They see them with the nice car and other signs of wealth, so it’s very important for people to see them being targeted. We very much welcome this.”

She called on the Government to change the law under which CAB money goes centrally to the exchequer. “We would like to see a Government decision to ring-fence CAB money and put it back into local drug services, particularly at a time where such services are facing cutbacks.”

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern welcomed the new focus on middle ranking criminals: “I believe this will address the understandable desire of communities that the bureau should focus on all criminals who are parading their ill-gotten assets before local communities”.

Det chief supt O’Mahony welcomed the 20% rise in funding for CAB in 2009 and said it would help continue its success.

Meanwhile, criminals are becoming “more adept” at hiding their wealth, says CAB. In its 2007 annual report, CAB said it had increased its level of financial expertise to ferret out the proceeds of crime.

“Criminals are becoming more adept at hiding the fruits of their criminal activity,” the report read. In response, CAB set up an analysis unit training officers in forensic financial analysis.

In its 12 years, CAB has secured seizure orders worth €71m, collected over €118m in taxes and recovered over €2.5m in social welfare overpayments.

In 2007, CAB had a staff of 59 and a budget of €5m.