A man has been arrested in Dublin after fake passports, equipment and cash were seized by gardai as part of a European investigation into cyber fraud and fake online sales.
Three searches were carried out in the Dublin area by Gardai from the Garda National Economic Bureau on Wednesday in conjunction with Europol, Eurojust and other EU Police forces.
Fake passports and details of fake bank accounts were discovered during the search along with laptops, phones, cash and laminators which were suspected of being used in the manufacturing of the passports.
It is believed that the equipment was being used by an organised crime group who are involved in cyber fraud.
The types of fraud in question include fake online sales and accommodation fraud where goods were bought online by people all over the EU but not received.
Investigators say that the money used in the fraud was laundered through bank accounts set up in Ireland under fake names with Gardai estimating that more than €1.5million has been laundered through these accounts in the past year.
The man is currently being detained at Coolock Garda Station under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act.
Gardai said that previous arrests have been made in Finland and Ireland in relation to the investigation which is ongoing.
