250 gang members arrested in 2011

More than 250 members of organised crime gangs were arrested last year and more than €30m worth of drugs were seized, according to a Garda report.

Over €500,000 in cash was confiscated in these operations. This is in addition to €4m in tax payments from gang bosses and almost €3m in money gained from the sale of criminal assets.

Gangsters are also experiencing a crackdown on social welfare claims, with a 150% jump in the recovery of monies from them.