11-fold jump in value of criminal assets frozen in year

There was an 11-fold increase in the value of assets frozen last year from suspected crime bosses, according to new figures.

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) annual report for 2017 reveals vehicles, financial assets, jewellery, and property worth over €7m had been frozen. This contrasts with seized assets worth just €643,000 in 2016.

This was due to the large jump in the number of High Court cases taken by the bureau in 2017 seeking the freezing of assets, pending court examination.