More than €3.9million was returned to the exchequer last year thanks to the Criminal Assets Bureau.
In 2019, bureau officers returned around €1.6million under the Proceeds of Crime legislation, €2million collected under Revenue legislation and more than €0.3m recovered in Social Welfare overpayments.
CAB also froze nearly €65million in assets, a significant increase on the previous year, due in the main to the granting of a freezing order over cryptocurrency to the value of €53million.
Welcoming the annual report, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said: “The Criminal Asset Bureau continues to play an important role in deterring illegal activity by freezing and confiscating assets identified as coming from the proceeds of crime.
“The Bureau is an example of international best practice in law enforcement and demonstrates how we, as a country, can face up to our shared challenges.
"Criminal gangs are becoming more sophisticated in concealing their assets, which has necessitated changes in policing.
“CAB’s success in bringing a record number of cases before the Court in 2019 demonstrates their commitment and determination to their mission, and ability to counter the changing strategies of criminals.
“CAB’s achievements in 2019 continue to demonstrate its continuing value to law enforcement in Ireland.
“I am pleased that CAB continues to carry out their important work during this period.”
