merrion street

The Criminal Assets Bureau Report published today shows that during 2012 the Bureau returned in total more than €7.2 million to the Exchequer. This is broken down as follows :

• in excess of €4.8 million returned under Proceeds of Crime legislation
• over €1.9 million returned using appropriate Revenue provisions
• €393,797 recovered under Social Welfare provisions.

Commenting on the Report, the Minister said:

Again we see the considerable powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau being brought to bear on those who seek to live off the ill-gotten gains of criminal activity. Arising from actions taken by the Bureau across the jurisdiction and abroad in excess of €7.2 million was returned to the Exchequer in 2012.

The Annual Report provides an insight into the workings of the Bureau and highlights the advantage of adopting a multi-agency and multi-disciplinary approach to the targeting of illicit assets. The Bureau is an essential component in the State’s law enforcement response to serious and organised crime and the Government is fully committed to further strengthening its powers through future legislative reform.

Copies of the Annual Report are made available in the Oireachtas Library and on the websites of An Garda Síochána (www.garda.ie) and the Department of Justice and Equality (www.justice.ie).