The Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) collected more than €19 million in unpaid taxes from suspected criminals last year, it emerged today.
The bureau also secured High Court orders in separate bids to seize €8.5 million of the proceeds of criminal activity.
Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan
The 11th annual report of Cab was published today by Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan and sent to the Oireachtas.
Mr Lenihan said the report proved the success of Cab in pursuing the assets of those who seek to benefit from criminal activity.
The Minister also said he wants to create more co-operation between Cab and drug operations in all Garda divisions.
"The bureau remains an important and integral element in the fight against crime. Its valuable work helps to ensure that crime does not pay," the Minister said.
In 2006, Cab also made social welfare savings of over €297,000 and recovered more than €139,704 in illegally obtained benefits.
Cab was set up in 1996 to deal with increasing levels of serious organised crime in the wake of the murders of Veronica Guerin and Det Garda Jerry McCabe.
Under 1996 legislation underpinning Cab, the agency can apply to the High Court for an interim order that will freeze assets that can be shown to be the proceeds of crime.
PA