No hiding place for proceeds of crime – at home or abroad

THE continued success of the trailblazing Criminal Assets Bureau is partly attributable to a desire to evolve and tackle fresh targets.

Since its creation under then Detective Chief Supt Fachtna Murphy, in the wake of the murder of ‘Sunday Independent’ investigative journalist Veronica Guerin in 1996, its role has been developed and widened by each of his successors up to the current bureau boss, Pat Clavin.

Each year, the bureau has had to adapt its response to the changing patterns of criminal activity. In 2017-18, this has meant playing a big role in Operation Thor, the nationwide crackdown on the travelling thugs and organised crime gangs responsible for the burglary and robbery spree that affected every county.

The authorities here were among the first to appreciate the impact of hitting the gangsters in their pockets.

Backed up by tough legislation and powers, the bureau has made its presence felt among the terrorists, the drug-trafficking mobsters and now the burglars.

The seizures from some of the main outfits responsible for the reign of rural and urban terror – particularly against the elderly and most vulnerable – have been a significant factor in the big increase in the numbers of assets frozen under the Proceeds of Crime Act and the 10-fold rise in the value of the confiscations.

The rural operations undertaken by the bureau in 2017-18 have increased in number, size and resource and have been met with a positive feedback locally as bureau officers delivered presentations at joint policing committees throughout the State to outline their work and appeal for information on potential new targets.

Its nationwide remit was acknowledged by an unprecedented boost to the pool of trained asset profilers around the country, totalling almost 280 gardaí, customs officers and Employment and Social Protection staff.

A significant change in the legislation in 2016 reduced the threshold for using the Proceeds of Crime laws from €13,000 to €5,000. This allowed the bureau to embark on early intervention with mid-level criminals, rather than focusing solely on those in the top tiers.

In some cases, this early action halted the progression of the newest generation of criminals through the gangland ranks and in others severely curbed their activities, at least temporarily.

In 2017, the value of assets seized ranged from €9,000 to €2.7m, while the bureau forwarded €1.6m to the Exchequer, along with more than €2.3m in revenue cases.

A further €319,000 was recovered in social welfare overpayments.

In gangland, the involvement of the recently created special crime task force in the bureau led to 53 new cases last year, making a total of 109. According to the bureau, these figures confirmed the model as best placed to tackle the newer generation of urban and rural criminal apprentices.

Its success at home has attracted attention overseas and bolstered increasing co-operation with other law enforcement agencies.

During the year, the bureau dealt with 33 requests for assistance from nine countries within the EU and received help from seven countries in 17 inquiries. The message being sent from the bureau to the crime gangs is that there is no longer any hiding place for their assets – either at home or abroad.