The Criminal Assets Bureau collected €23.5 million in taxes and interest for the year 2001, almost twice the value of the cash and property it seized for 2000, which came to around €12 million.
The sixth annual report laid before the Oireachtas by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr McDowell, indicates that the bureau, since it was statutorily established in October 1996, has obtained interim and "final" restraint orders valued at €14 million and €11 million respectively up to December 31st, 2001.
During the same period, taxes and interest demanded by the bureau since its inception came to €36 million, out of the €56 million in total demanded.
Interim orders valued at €3 million were issued in 2001, with final restraint orders of €2 million. And social welfare savings amounted to almost €193,000, the bureau reports.
"The successes in the bureau's annual report for 2001 underline its key role, particularly in the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime, said Mr McDowell.
He stressed in particular the "threefold increase" in the taxes collected on profits from criminal activity, compared to what had accrued in the previous year.
"The bureau will continue, with the full support of the Government, to prevent those involved in the drugs trade, and in other forms of serious crime, from enjoying the proceeds of their illegal activity."
Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996, the bureau can apply to the High Court for an interim order, which will prohibit a defendant from "dealing with, or otherwise dispensing or of diminishing" the value of a property - with a value of not less than €13,000 - that can be shown to have been acquired as a result of crime.
Once the High Court grants an interim order, the bureau must apply within 21 days for an interlocutory - or final restraint - order.
If this is granted the property specified is frozen for seven years.
Court proceedings under proceeds of crime legislation as well as the Revenue and Social Welfare Acts were initiated "in a substantial number of cases", according to the annual report.
The majority were not completed during the course of the year, however, and are still before the courts.
In addition, Section 7 of the Proceeds of Crime Act allows the bureau to seek receivership orders. During 2001 it obtained 15 such orders.
In all cases the bureau's legal officer was appointed as receiver by the High Court, according to the annual report.