Gardai have busted a Romanian gang suspected of operating an international €1million fraud scam from Ireland.
Detectives arrested a man as they searched three properties during the operation across Dublin.
They believe the gang is part of an online sales scam involving a massive money laundering operation.
Sources confirmed the criminals have been operating in Ireland for some time and are wanted in several countries.
Officers, who released images of seized laptops, phones, prints and laminators, said the hunt for the gang involves the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, Europol, Eurojust and other EU police forces.
The criminals are involved in bogus online sales and accommodation frauds where people are duped into purchasing goods online but they are not delivered.
A Garda spokesman said: “The money is then laundered through bank accounts set up in Ireland under false names.
“It is estimated in excess of €1.5million has been laundered in the past year.
“As part of this ongoing investigation previous arrests were made in Finland and Ireland.
“False passports, details of false bank accounts, equipment (laptops, phones, prints, laminators) suspected of use in the manufacture of these false passports along with an amount of cash was seized.
“One male has been arrested and is detained at Coolock Garda station.”
