CAB’S €200M CRIME SHEET
»»Bureau identifies 1,800 in fight against gangsters »»Unit adapting to new ways thugs do business
THE Criminal Assets Bureau has identified more than 1,800 targets with 31 based abroad as cops vowed to continue to hit gangsters involved in organised crime.
Marking its 25th anniversary since its establishment yesterday, figures show it has “denied and deprived” criminals of nearly €200million since October 15, 1996.
But the head of the bureau, Chief Superintendent Michael Gubbins, has told how they have adapted to new sophisticated ways in which criminals work in that time, pointing towards huge cryptocurrency seizures made in recent years.
And although it was first set up to target drug dealers, he explained how CAB have progressed to hitting those involved in theft, burglary fraud and money laundering.
The unit was created to target the hoods’ assets which had been bought through the proceeds of crime following the murders of Detective Garda Jerry Mccabe and crime journalist Veronica Guerin in 1996.
Around €199million has been nabbed from criminals since then, with Revenue Bureau Officers collecting over €161.4million and Social Welfare Bureau Officers recovering just over €5million.
Chief Supt Gubbins revealed they made one of the first cryptocurrency seizures in Europe in 2015 and last year alone, they got €53million worth of the currency.
And he explained how it highlights how CAB can adapt to evolving methods of crime.
Speaking from Garda Headquarters, Chief Supt Gubbins said: “At the time, it was one of the first such seizures in Europe, the area of crypto and alternative currency being relatively new to law enforcement.
“The Bureau is continuing to develop its expertise and capabilities and collaborates with other law enforcement agencies engaged with
the investigation of cryptocurrency.”
The top cop was also asked if the higher echelons of the Kinahan cartel – living in their boltholes abroad – were being pursued by CAB but he refused to go into specifics.
He said: “I’d rather not go into who they are, where they are. Generally our targets only become aware of us when we arrive at their door at some early hour in the morning.” CAB has had previous successful cases against Liam Byrne – whose brother David was shot dead at the Regency Hotel in 2016 – and Sean Mcgovern, who was shot in the leg that day.
The High Court previously heard that Liam Byrne was “at the very top tier” of organised crime in Ireland.
Byrne now resides in the UK while Mcgovern is believed to be in Dubai, where mob boss Daniel Kinahan is based. Chief Supt Gubbins explained in recent times, their seizures of ill-gotten gains have seen more luxury clothing and jewellery. Others have uncovered the likes of a gyroplane.
The twoseater aircraft was auctioned off by CAB last year after it was seized from drug dealer Clifton Collins in 2017. In that case, they also seized Bitcoin accounts worth more than €53million.
He is serving a five-year sentence for possession of cannabis plants worth €400,000.
Describing the items his team has come across, Chief Supt Gubbins said: “It’s the cars that they drive. It’s the extensions and renovations and upgrades that they do to their houses.
“We’ve seen unusual items like gyroplanes, they’ve also invested in blood stock and agri stock over the years as well.”
Chief Supt Gubbins also explained how people reporting to CAB is essential to them.
They receive three to four “good citizen reports” every week by phone, handwritten letters, emails and Facebook messages.
He added: “By way of recent example, a member contacted the bureau by telephone late in the afternoon and by that night, we had seized a car to the value of €80,000.”
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris hailed the work of CAB in protecting communities.
He said: “Those involved in profiting from crime ravage the communities that they are embedded in.
“And throughout the past 25 years, the Bureau has sought to disrupt and prevent this by targeting criminal assets and making it more and more difficult to conceal or enjoy the proceeds of their crimes.”
Justice Minister Heather Humphreys added: “Since its
inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime and disrupting the activities of criminal gangs by depriving them of ill-gotten
assets.”
It has been at forefront of fighting organised crime
HEATHER HUMPHREYS YESTERDAY