THE CUSTOMS Service has been granted a two-month extension to an order allowing it to retain €100,000 seized at Shannon Airport while an international investigation continues.
On February 28th last, officers took the cash when they searched a bag belonging to a passenger. The money was concealed in the hand luggage of a 46-year-old Irishman who was due to board a flight to the UK.
Suspicious about the origins of the cash, officers seized the money under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1994 as amended by Section 20 of Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2005. The man was allowed to continue on his journey.
Customs officers were originally granted a three-month detention order for the cash at Ennis District Court so that they could commence an investigation which has since been extended to other countries. Officers also had the option of returning to court at the end of that timeframe to seek a further extension.
The Customs service, a division of the Revenue, has now been granted a two-month extension to that order at Ennis District Court. A spokesperson for the Customs service said: “Investigations in relation to the source and intended use of the cash are ongoing both nationally and internationally and a determination has not been made at this stage.”
Customs officers are investigating whether the cash was legitimately in the possession of the passenger, who has the right to reclaim the money.
The man will, however, have to satisfy officers about the source of the cash and the reason why he was carrying such a large amount. If the cash is found to be the proceeds of crime, it can be forfeited.
While there is no restriction on the movement of cash between EU states, Customs officers have the power to detain cash if they have “reasonable grounds for suspecting that it directly or indirectly represents the proceeds of crime or is intended by any person for use in any criminal conduct”.
In 2008, Customs officials seized a total of €3,522,764 in cash at Irish ports and airports. There were 27 seizures of cash amounting to €2,804,211 at Dublin airport.