The British government has been urged by the SDLP to give its new team of crimefighters total freedom to target any of Northern Ireland's wealthy gangsters and terror bosses.
An SDLP delegation emerged from talks with Assets Recovery Agency chief Mr Alan McQuillan in Belfast to demand powers to rival the Republic's hugely successful Criminal Assets Bureau.
Party chairman Mr Alex Attwood claimed it has been held back by only taking on cases where police cannot achieve prosecutions. "The ARA must be free to set its own agenda instead of accepting hand-me-downs from the police," he said.
Mr McQuillan, Chief Constable Hugh Orde's former number two, is heading a 15-strong team bidding to raid the bank accounts of racketeers and drug dealers.
Several men have already been targeted in a bid to freeze their cash, sue them or impose huge tax bills. But the SDLP team insisted the CAB, on which the UK-agency was based, enjoys far greater powers and resources.
A six-point plan for seizing criminal assets was also proposed.
This involves: pumping in more cash; cutting red tape; applying the law without favour to informers or paramilitary organisations; adopting a multi-agency approach to the fight; greater cross-border co-operation; and moving to an all-Ireland agency.
"We all know that smugglers, drug dealers and criminals have no regard for borders," Mr Attwood added. "That is why the SDLP believes that the best way forward is for the creation of an all-Ireland Criminal Assets Bureau."