The Criminal Assets Bureau, assisted by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (Stolen Motor Vehicle Unit), the Garda Dog Unit, the Garda Mounted Unit, the Eastern Region Regional Response Unit, the Meath Division Divisional Search Team, local Gardai from Ashbourne and Navan, and Revenue Customs conducted a search operation in County Meath this morning, Tuesday the 13th of November 2018.
The CAB investigation centers on an Organised Crime Gang made up of members of the one family based in County Meath, who are involved in Drugs, Theft and Fraud.
Seven (7) Searches in total were carried out, four (4) in the Ashbourne Garda District, one (1) in the Navan Garda District and two (2) professional searches relating to the targets were conducted in offices in Dublin.
This search operation involved the search of five (5) residential premises and two (2) professional premises. The five (5) residential premises were located in County Meath, with the two (2) professional premises located in Dublin. All searches were conducted under CAB Warrants, Section 14 of the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996, as amended.
Approximately eighty (80) officers were deployed on this search operation. Personnel from the Criminal Assets Bureau, Meath Garda Division, Eastern Region Regional Response Unit, Stolen Motor Vehicle Unit, Garda Mounted Unit, Garda Dog Unit, Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. Assistance was provided by the Customs Oil Enforcement Unit from the Border Region and by the Customs Cash and Drugs Dog Unit from Dublin. Staff from the Electricity Supply Board provided assistance and made safe unauthorised electricity connection.
The following was seized;
-3 stolen vehicles: Toyota Landcruiser, Toyota Hi Lux, Toyota Avensis.
-4 vehicles were seized for having marked gas oil (Green Diesel)
-1 vehicle was seized as evidence in connection with the theft of another SUV in Cork
-Drugs (Ecstasy) to the value of €2,500 was seized
-Assorted plant, machinery and tools (including a topper/mulcher) was seized
-€1.500 in cash was seized.
-An air rifle was seized.
-Jewelry, documents, mobile phones and electronic devices were seized.
An investigation is being conducted in the theft of electricity from the national grid.
One man was arrested on warrant issued by the District Court.
Documentation in relation to the ownership of assets, financial documentation, mobile phones and electronic storage devices were seized and are currently being examined by Bureau Officers. CAB Revenue Bureau Officers are also investigating the tax situation in relation to each of the targets.
CAB Social Welfare Bureau Officers are investigating social welfare issues that arise in relation to the targets.
This morning’s search operation is a significant development in the CAB investigation.
Photographs are available here.
