The 61-year-old man arrested on Tuesday, 10th December 2019 in Finglas, Dublin 11, by members attached to the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigations (GNBCI), has been released without charge. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
This arrest forms part of a wider international investigation involving An Garda Síochána and the UK's National Crime Agency.
Assistant Commissioner, John O’Driscoll who heads Special Crime Operations within An Garda Síochána said, "An Garda Síochána has forged a very powerful working relationship with the UK’s National Crime Agency, which is assisting in ensuring that communities in the UK and Ireland are better protected from organised crime”.
Previous Press Release on this incident listed below:
Special Crime Operations (SCO) within the Garda Síochána is engaged in ongoing operational activity, including at an international level, for the purpose of tackling criminal activity engaged in by organised crime groups (OCGs).
In the course of targeting of organised crime groups, Special Crime Operations (SCO), through the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigations (GNBCI), is investigating the suspected procurement, by persons associated with particular organised crime groups, of genuine Irish passports through fraudulent means.
At 7.30am, on this date, Tuesday, 10th December 2019, personnel attached to GNBCI, arrested a male, age 61years, in Finglas, Dublin, 11, on suspicion of committing an offence contrary to the provisions of section 20(1) of the Passports Act 2008 by using alleged fraudulent means in attempting to obtain a genuine Irish Passport, for use by a member of a particular OCG.
The aforementioned arrested person was conveyed to Mountjoy Garda Station, where he is detained pursuant to the provisions of section 4, Criminal Justice Act 1984.
Speaking today Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll who heads Special Crime Operations, said "The arrest this morning, is further evidence of the Garda Síochána’s unrelenting targeting of organised crime groups, involving cooperation at an international level”. He further stated, "I am certain that ongoing liaison between the Garda Síochána and law enforcement authorities, at an international level, will give rise to additional success, in the near future”.
