Helen McEntee

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) seized cash, property assets, luxury cars, watches such as Rolex, Breitling and Hublot, and clothes such as Christine Louboutin shoes and Louis Vuitton bags, according to its annual report for 2022.

The total sum seized was €6.359 million, with assets ranging in value from €9,718 to €1,948,147.

Justice minister Helen McEntee said: “Between 1996 and 2022, CAB denied and deprived criminals of over €210 million of assets that were returned to the Exchequer.

“Of this, €35.5 million was under the proceeds of crime legislation, €169 million was from revenue collections and over €5.8 million in social welfare recoveries.”

She added: “In 2021 I established the Community Safety Innovation Fund, which reinvests proceeds of crime returned to the Exchequer by CAB back into communities to fund innovative local projects aimed at building stronger, safer communities.

“I’m delighted that we have been able to increase the size of this fund to €3.75 million under Budget 2024, reflective of the continued success of An Garda Síochána and CAB.

“Putting this money back into the community is a really tangible way of showing that there can be a direct link between the activities of law enforcement and building stronger, safer communities.

“I am also determined to further strengthen the legislation underpinning CAB. Work is ongoing on the general scheme of the Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2023, which I hope to bring to government by the end of the year.”