Issue Date: 08/06/2021
This morning, Tuesday 8th June 2021, Gardaí attached to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB), assisted by Gardaí from Lucan, arrested two men (aged 19 and 20) as part of an ongoing operation investigating a suspected criminal organisation involved in cyber-enabled frauds, the recruitment of money mules and the laundering of the proceeds of these frauds.
Between 13th August 2020 and 16th November 2020, nine customers of an Irish banking institution had an approximated total of €64,000 stolen from their accounts after responding to a fraudulent text message (smishing), which they believed to be from their bank. This money was subsequently transferred to the accounts of money mules and withdrawn from ATMs.
Arising from these investigations, three searches were conducted this morning in the Lucan area. The two men were arrested for offences contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006.
They are currently detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007 in Clondalkin and Ronanstown Garda Stations. They can be detained for up to seven days.
A total of 11 people have been arrested as part of this operation, to date.
Investigations are ongoing.
