Gardai are set to seize the property of callous insurance fraudsters in a massive nationwide crackdown.
Operation Coatee involved the Force's Economic Crime Bureau, Criminal Assets Bureau and armed support units as they hit six locations today and seized expensive jewellery and cars.
The operation, involving specialists anti-fraud units, has focused on people who are suspected of making more than 20 fake insurance claims.
Some of these claims, were examined by detectives, even after payments were made in some of the cases.
Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll, Special Crime Operations (SCO) said his units will seize property off people found making bogus claims.
Cash, jewellery and cars seized in multiple raids across Cork
He said: "The Garda Síochána is determined to identify all those persons who are involved in the making of bogus insurance claims and to maximise its potential to initiate prosecution, through engaging in coordinated operation activity, such as that undertaken today”.
The assistant commissioner further stated, "Where financial gain has already been achieved by those involved in this form of criminality the Garda Síochána will utilise available legislation to identify relevant assets and target them for seizure”.
A garda spokesman outlined Wednesday's operation in West Dublin.
He said: "Investigations carried out, to date, by GNECB, indicate that a number of targets in this operation have submitted multiple claims, in many circumstances while using false identities.
"The suspected bogus claims involved in this case, result from false claims of injury sustained through slips and falls.
"(Units) undertook a number of searches in the West Dublin area, for the purpose of gathering additional evidence, with a view to submitting files to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), in an effort to prosecute those suspected of insurance related criminality.
"Additionally, search warrants were executed at a number of solicitor’s offices.
"Arising from these searches, six high value cars and jewellery with a value in excess of €300,000 was seized along with a substantial amount of documentation and financial records."
Sources have said that the specialist investigation units have been brought in to dedicate high end resources to cracking down on the callous scammers.
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Lead detectives from Special Crime Operations including the anti-gangland Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the National Bureau of Criminal Investigations.
The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) will also be requested to utilise legislative provisions and powers available to it, for the purpose of tackling the criminality involved.
A garda spokesman said: "Insurance related investigations are being undertaken at a national level, through the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) and at a local level within Garda Síochána districts, throughout the country, many of which are brought to a successful conclusion, by way of prosecution followed by conviction."
