The Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy has announced the establishment of a full time specialist Organised Crime Unit.
On the 31st January 2008, The Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy while attending a graduation ceremony at the Garda College in Templemore announced the establishment of a full time specialist Organised Crime Unit. The unit is being established on a permanent basis due it's significant success to date.
The Unit was set up on a temporary basis in November 2005. There are 70 Garda members attached to this unit, and their focus is on targeted, intelligence lead operations across a range of criminality and working closely with other units such as Garda National Drugs Unit and Garda National Immigration Unit. The Unit is lead by a Detective Superintendent and is under the control of Detective Chief Superintendent, National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
In 2007 the unit was responsible for up to 130 arrests, for crimes which included armed robbery, drug trafficking, aggravated burglary and firearms offences. The unit conducted 120 searches, seized 30 firearms and drugs with a value of 7 million euro.
Garda Press Office
31/1/08
