DUBLIN, Ireland - Authorities have delivered a significant blow to an international organized crime group, carrying out a series of coordinated raids across Ireland as part of a long-running investigation into global fraud and money laundering.
The searches, conducted on Tuesday, saw officers from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) join forces with the National Cyber Crime Bureau and local units to execute 11 search warrants.
The operation spanned seven counties, with raids taking place in Sligo, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Kilkenny, Kildare, and Meath. These searches build on three earlier operations conducted already this year.
During the searches, investigators seized a number of electronic devices believed to contain crucial evidence related to the network's activities. In a notable discovery, officers also recovered several items of clothing that are thought to denote specific ranks, affiliation, and loyalty within the hierarchical structure of the organized crime group.
The crackdown is part of Operation SKEIN, an investigation led by the Economic Crime Bureau targeting sophisticated criminal enterprises that commit fraud worldwide and launder the illicit profits through networks of bank accounts in Ireland.
The investigation has a significant international dimension, with Gardaí working closely with law enforcement partners across several jurisdictions, supported by Europol and Interpol. This coordinated global approach highlights the scale and complexity of the network under scrutiny.
Since the operation began in 2020, Gardaí have identified approximately 1,400 potential suspects linked to the theft and laundering of an estimated €94 million. The enforcement effort has been substantial, with more than 636 people arrested to date. Over half of those arrested have since been charged with offenses ranging from gangland criminal activity to money laundering.
These arrests have been carried out by local Garda units in nearly every Community Engagement Area across the country, reflecting the widespread nature of the investigation.
Tuesday's searches mark the latest phase in the ongoing operation, with investigations continuing.
(File photo).
