Gardai have confiscated around €4million from a west Dublin based crime gang in what is believed to be the biggest one-off cash seizure in the State's history.
The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau seized the massive haul during search operations in Co Kerry and Co Laois yesterday.
A spokesman said the raids were part of a wider operation "targeting the suspected criminal activities of a particular organised crime group, believed to be involved in drug trafficking at an international level".
Sources say the gang is believed to have been using the motor trade to launder dirty cash raised from the sale of drugs.
The spokesman continued: "In the course of the two searches, investigating members located and seized a quantity of cash estimated to total €4,000,000 along with three motor vehicles".
A 46-year-old man is being held at Tralee Garda Station after being arrested on suspicion of having committed an organised crime related offence.
Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll said yesterday's huge haul reflected the gardai's determination to thwart drug gangs and sent a warning to "particular organised crime groups" that more raids would follow.
He said today: "An Garda Síochána, through its Organised and Serious Crime (OSC) section continues to target criminal activity associated with organised crime groups with a particular focus on depriving those concerned of the proceeds of their criminal activity.
"The seizure yesterday by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) of cash, potentially to the extent of €4 million, bringing to €8 million the total amount of cash seized by GNDOCB so far this year, is another important achievement, reflecting our determination to dismantle particular organised crime groups.”
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