Army of 4,000 Irish money mules help criminal organisation launder €64m

Detective Superintendent Mick Cryan, Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, speaking at today's media briefing on Operation Skein and Operation Jackal in Dublin. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

An army of 4,000-plus people in Ireland are laundering money for a notorious west African-based criminal organisation, with an estimated €64m cleaned through the accounts to date.

A garda investigation into the ‘Black Axe’ crime network which has identified 130 gang bosses and lieutenants here has been taken on by the international police body, Interpol, and spawned a global investigation.