Thurles Information

Gardaí have arrested in total five men in counties Tipperary, Westmeath, Cork and Roscommon.

The arrests are part of further investigation into invoice redirection fraud involving some €6.3 million; of which €5 million was possibly lodged or moved through bank accounts here in the Irish republic.

Of the men detained, four are understood to be from Romania and one from Nigeria. Previously, a female associate of the men arrested was herself taken into custody in Co Tipperary, late last year, when she attempted to withdraw €31,000 from a bank account, which was suspected to contain the proceeds of invoice redirect fraud.

Yesterday morning, officers attached to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) made four arrests following a number of planned searches carried out in Co. Tipperary, Co. Cork, and Co. Roscommon.

The four arrested individuals, all understood to be aged between 23 and 35 years of age, were detained at garda stations in Tipperary town, and Middleton, Mallow, Fermoy Co. Cork, under Section 50, of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.

Last evening, in a follow up operation, a fifth man, understood to be aged in his 20s, was also arrested in Co. Westmeath. Latter is currently being detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007 in Castlerea Garda Station, Co. Roscommon, where he can be held for questioning for up to seven days.

Four of yesterdays arrests were made under as part of Operation BOXPLOT, while the fifth man, also arrested yesterday, was detained under Operation SKEIN. All are being questioned in relation to the laundering of the proceeds of international invoice re-direct fraud.

To current date, 22 individuals have been arrested as part of Operation SKEIN, and Operation BOXPLOT; with further investigations ongoing.

Gardaí have forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland, for analysis, what they believe to be €10,000 worth of cannabis herb, latter seized on Wednesday last at Thurles Railway station.

Officers from the Tipperary Divisional Drugs Unit out on patrol have arrested two men; one aged in his 30’s and the other in his 40’s, in connection with the incident.

A spokesperson for the Gardaí has stated that the arresting officers observed two men acting suspiciously. On being approached by Gardaí, one of the men attempted to conceal a bag containing the cannabis herb behind a bin, before fleeing down the railway track.

After a short chase on foot by Gardaí both individuals were apprehended, before being detained at Tullamore Garda station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.

Second Drugs Arrest

Meanwhile, members of the Cahir and Cashel Drugs Unit halted and searched a motor vehicle at John Street, Cashel, Co. Tipperary on the same afternoon. A search of the vehicle revealed a quantity of cocaine and cannabis, leading to the arrest of one other male occupant.