Five released after Longford Operation Skein raids

To date, it is estimated that this Criminal Organisation have stolen over €15.5 million and laundered near €14 million in Ireland.

The five people arrested yesterday (Tuesday) for money laundering offences in Co. Longford have been released without charge.

“A file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions,” said a spokesperson for An Garda Siochana.

Gardaí from the Longford District, supported by Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) (formerly known as the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation) personnel conducted five searches in the county on Tuesday morning and afternoon.

Four men and one woman, aged in their late teens and 20s were subsequently detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, at Longford, Mullingar and Granard Garda Stations respectively.

Under the Act, they five persons could have been detained for up to seven days.

In a statement, a spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said: “Those arrested are detained on suspicion of acting as and recruiting money mules, as well as laundering money in bank accounts for a Criminal Organisation.”

The searches were carried out as part of Operation SKEIN, a GNECB investigation into a Criminal Organisation involved in worldwide invoice redirect frauds and the subsequent laundering of the proceeds of these crimes through bank accounts in Ireland.

To date, it is estimated that this Criminal Organisation have stolen over €15.5 million and laundered near €14 million in Ireland.

Approximately 78 people have now been arrested who are connected to the suspect Criminal Organisation targetted by the GNECB.

GNECB continues to work with local districts and with international Police Forces through Eurojust, Europol and Interpol as they target this Criminal Organisation.

“A number of convictions have been recorded, numerous are before the courts charged with offences and files are being prepared for the DPP and GYDO in respect of the rest. More arrests are anticipated,” said garda in the statement issued yesterday.