Issue Date: 10th August 2023
An Garda Síochána, in conjunction with INTERPOL and Law Enforcement Agencies across 21 countries around the world carried out enforcement activity under Operation JACKAL. Closing ranks on West African organized crime: more than EUR 2 million seized in Operation Jackal (interpol.int)
- 3 premises searched in Dublin, Wicklow and Longford
- 9 persons arrested and detained under Organised Crime legislation
- 4 Persons arrested and detained for money laundering offences
- 33 persons arrested and charged for money laundering
- 1 person arrested and charged with gangland offences and money laundering
- 9 incidents of stolen money recovered from foreign bank accounts
- Over €400,000 of stolen monies recovered for Irish companies.
As part of INTERPOL Operation JACKAL a period of international Law Enforcement action was planned to take place across April and May of 2023.
Led by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB), under Operation SKEIN, in this jurisdiction, due to the volume of arrests/ detentions/ charges in Ireland, the period of action commenced during the 1st Quarter 2023 and culminated in intensified activity during April/ May 2023.
These operations were built on activity previously highlighted by An Garda Síochána in October 2022. Interpol Operation JACKAL / Ireland Operation Skein - 14th October 2022 - Garda
There were three facets to the Ireland plan:
- Conduct searches for evidence
- arrest, detain and question suspects
- arrest and charge suspects where directions have been received from the DPP.
Due to the volume of reports, cases, suspects, GNECB submit investigative packages to local districts for suspects to be arrested and investigated locally. The searches and detentions were co-ordinated by the GNECB and included assistance from local Garda units across the country. The arrests for charging were conducted by GNECB and local Gardaí in counties including Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Limerick, Kerry, Laois, Longford, Cork.
In addition, GNECB continues to work with financial institutions to put new systems in place for the reporting of money laundering and money mules. The co-operation of financial institutions has been second to none and the success of this operation could not have been achieved without this support.
Positive examples of cases where money was recovered from Business Email Compromise (BEC) fraud in Ireland include:
Case 1: Complaint by company that over €98,000 was stolen in a BEC fraud and transferred to a bank a/c in Portugal - working with the financial institution, the payment was cancelled and all the money was recovered.
Case 2: Over €149,000 stolen in a BEC from a victim buying an apartment in Spain. Money was laundered through an a/c in Spain. Working with the financial institution GNECB was able to recover nearly €76,000 laundered through a secondary a/c in Spain.
Case 3: Over €95,000 stolen in a BEC in USA in early April 2023 and laundered through an a/c in Ireland. Working with the financial institution, GNECB was able to freeze and recover over €91,000.
In 7 cases involving Irish Companies, with over €475,000 cash stolen, over €400,000 was recovered by the GNECB.
Speaking about the results of Operation JACKAL today, Assistant Commissioner Kelly, Organised and Serious Crime said "Operation JACKAL continues to demonstrate our commitment to work internationally, engaging with Law Enforcement partners, such as INTERPOL, in disrupting the activities of Transnational Organised Crime Groups. Operation JACKAL is a direct response to investigations initiated by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB), once again highlighting the internationally recognised expertise and professionalism of the members of An Garda Síochána, particularly those attached to GNECB”
Speaking about Operation SKEIN, Detective Superintendent Michael Cryan, Garda National Economic Crime Bureau highlighted that "The 34 persons arrested and charged as part of this phase of Operation SKEIN were involved in money laundering, these persons were facilitating the criminal activities of organised crime groups, by allowing their bank accounts to be used to move criminally gained money. They also facilitated and contributed to the theft of money from other individuals and companies. This is a crime. These persons face a criminal conviction and the long term impacts of such a conviction.”
DSupt Cryan further appealed "Do not let any other person have access to or use your account to transfer money. If you are approached on social media or other platform, with a promise of ‘easy money’, beware, your bank account is your information and your responsibility.” "If you believe your account has been compromised in some way, contact your financial institution and An Garda Síochána.”
Background: Operation JACKAL (INTERPOL) is called Operation SKEIN in Ireland. Operation SKEIN is a GNECB run investigation into an International Criminal Organisation which commit mainly BEC and Romance Frauds worldwide and launder the proceeds through networks of bank accounts in Ireland.
It is the assessment of GNECB/ INTERPOL that this Criminal Organisation is the Black AXE, a Criminal Organisation formed in West Africa in the mid-1970s and which is now operating worldwide. This investigation began with a request for assistance from an EU country, via EUROPOL in early 2020. €1.1 million was stolen in a BEC fraud and laundered through Asia. The fake emails originated from Ireland. Electronic devices seized during this investigation, analysed in co-operation with International Law Enforcement indicated for the first time that this Criminal Organisation was operating from Ireland and not just laundering through Ireland.
To date the following Garda investigative and enforcement activity has taken place, nationwide,
- 84 persons arrested under organised crime legislation
- 327 persons arrested for money laundering offences
- 102 Arrests by GNECB (of the above)
- 204 persons charged to date
- 22 Juveniles admitted to the Juvenile Diversion Programme
