Cars, cash and jewellery suspected to be criminal proceeds have been seized during raids on almost a dozen homes. The predawn swoop, involving 130 gardaí in Killarney, Co Kerry, was part of a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation of a possible crime gang.
Nine vehicles, some estimated to be worth more than €100,000, were taken away to be assessed. Officers seized Rolex and Cartier watches among the jewellery, as well as more than €100,000 in cash, some of it in sterling. Documents were also seized, and a number of bank accounts were frozen. All of the 11 houses targeted in the raids, which also involved the regional armed-response unit, belong to members of the Travelling community.
The ongoing investigation, which began more than a year ago in Killarney, gained impetus in 2017, according to a senior garda. Gardaí said they had been concerned for some time about the lifestyle of some families with no apparent income. They have also been concerned about alleged intimidation and become aware of situations involving elderly residents, a Garda source said.
Padraig O’Connell, a solicitor who represents some of the people targeted in the raids, declined to comment on what exactly was seized, but “certain seizures will be challenged”, he said.
No arrests have been made.