Waterford gardaí investigating scams seize €1.12m in 'first major seizure of cryptocurrency'

The Waterford Division Crime Hub says large amount of smishing texts, theft, deception and money-laundering are linked to international criminal organisations

Investigating gardaí  said the operation has identified links to organised criminal groups operating across Europe, the UK, Dubai and South Africa. File picture: Denis Minihane

Nine men have been arrested as part of a Garda investigation into a sophisticated money-laundering and 'smishing' scam with links to international criminal organisations.

Officers attached to the Waterford Division Crime Hub say they have been conducting "a complex criminal investigation" focusing on organised transnational criminal activity involving the sending of a large amount of smishing texts, theft, deception and money-laundering, both in Ireland and abroad.