Criminals: EU are targets

THE net tightened yesterday on Irish criminals with assets in other European countries with the establishment of an EU recovery agency.

The new body - launched by the Dutch EU Presidency - will make it easier to target international crime bosses who hide their illicit money in other countries.

The Camden Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network (CARIN) will operate from Europol, the European Police Agency.

The network was an initiative of the Dutch and Belgian confiscation bureaus and in cooperation with Ireland, UK, Austria and Germany.

Ireland’s Criminal Asset Bureau has been hailed throughout Europe for its success in targeting the profits and assets of suspected criminals.

Experts from over 30 countries have signed up to the network.

Europol say international criminals invest in properties to dispose of their money.