Gardaí on Tuesday executed a search warrant at a residence in Blackrock, Dublin, as part of an extensive investigation into alleged facilitation of a criminal organisation and international money laundering activities.
The operation involved the DMR East Division’s Economic Crime Unit, with assistance from the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), and Europol.
The investigation has centred on allegations of “a large scale” money laundering network operating with potential links to online fraud complaints originating from several international jurisdictions, and pertains to a variety of alleged offences, including suspected breaches of Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 and more.
Authorities identified suspicious activity across numerous bank accounts involving transactions from over 15 European countries. These activities reportedly include proceeds from criminal operations and suspected “money mule” transfers.
Led by the DMR East Division’s Economic Crime Unit and coordinated with Europol, an incident room has been established, and a Senior Investigating Officer has been assigned to oversee the investigation.
To date, authorities have seized over €3.25 million in cryptocurrency and €20,000 in cash, alongside several digital devices and documents deemed potentially significant to the case.
Two individuals, a male and a female in their 30s, were arrested at the scene and are being held under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007, at a Garda station in Dublin.
The investigation remains ongoing, and a Garda spokesperson was not available for comment.