Gardaí detain 11 in unlawful money lending probe

Gardaí in Clare have arrested 11 people as part of an ongoing investigation into unlawful money lending.

The arrests follow searches in the Kilrush area this morning which started at 7am.

Gardaí assisted by the Criminal Assets Bureau, a Regional Support Unit, Special Dectective Units from Galway, the National Criminal Intelligence Unit as well as offcials from Revenue, Social Welfare and Clare Co. Council carried out the searches at a number of houses and business premises in the area.

They arrested five men aged between 55 and 18, and six women aged between 49 and 20.

All are being detained at various Garda Stations in Co Clare, Limerick and Galway under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

The investigation, which has been ongoing for several months, centres around complaints received from various people and is focused on people suspected to be engaged in unlicensed money lending.