A Longford based organised crime gang has been dealt a significant blow according to An Garda Síochána. The Criminal Assets Bureau last week took possession of a number of properties and items in Longford, Leitrim and Kildare connected with the gang. The raids were conducted by CAB and local Gardaí last week on foot of a number High Court applications under the Proceeds of Crime Acts. The operations were targeted at dismantling a Longford based Organised Crime Group involved in the sale and supply of drugs, and serious feud related activity in Ireland. As part of the CAB investigation, it was established that properties and seized goods were funded by the proceeds of crime. A home at Ardnacassa off the Ballinalee road was seized by the Bureau with a court appointed surveyor pricing it at €337,500 following the completion of a renovation of the property.
Also recovered at this property was over €25,000 from three bank accounts, close to €18,000 in cash, a 191 Ford Focus along with a double axel Tuffmac trailer and trailer dolly. Items sized by CAB inside the home included designer Louis Vuitton bags and Christian Louboutin shoes. The Criminal Assets Bureau also took control of a substantial bank of land and several out buildings at three locations in Leitrim, with no value released by Gardaí next. The investigation also found that renovations to a property at Ellistown in Kildare were likely to have been paid for by proceeds derived from the criminal conduct. At that site, €10,150 in cash and gold bars to the value of €5,600 was recovered by CAB officers. The properties and items seized will eventually be sold by private treaty or public auction and the money returned to the taxpayer through the Central Fund.
