Criminal Assets Bureau returned over €3.8m last year

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) returned over €3.8 million to the Exchequer last year, according to its latest annual report.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan presented its 21st annual report to the Oireachtas yesterday.

Mr Flanagan said: “I am pleased to present the 21st Annual Report of the Criminal Assets Bureau and would like to thank and acknowledge Chief Bureau Officer Pat Clavin and his staff for their dedicated work in targeting the proceeds of crime generated from a range of criminal activities.”

The total amount recovered last year includes over €1.4 million returned under Proceeds of Crime legislation, €2.1 million under Revenue legislation, and €297,000 in social welfare overpayments.

Taxes and interest demanded during the year was valued at €5.023 million and social welfare savings amounted to €269,981.

Mr Flanagan said: “The Report also highlights the work of the Bureau in contributing to the international response to targeting the proceeds of crime, as well as the ongoing capacity building efforts of the Bureau through the extension of the Assets Profiler Training Programme and the conclusion of the Asset Confiscation and Tracing Investigators Course in conjunction with the Garda College.”

He continued: “I also want to acknowledge the significant profile the Bureau maintains at international level with law enforcement agencies and I note in the Chief Bureau Officer’s forwarding report that this cooperation has increased to the point where virtually every investigation currently underway has some international aspect to it.

“We have seen with the enactment of the Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2016 that the reach of the Bureau has extended in response to the increased organised crime threat. This Government is committed to fully supporting its work.”