Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan has pledged better co-operation between the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) and the Garda in order to target drug dealers at all levels of the trade.
Speaking on the publication of the Cab's annual report yesterday, Mr Lenihan implied improved liaison would improve the bureau's effectiveness in taking on low- and middle-ranking criminals.
"The message should be clear: drug dealing by anybody on whatever scale is unacceptable and will be pursued," he said.
Earlier this month, a drug dealer had just over €17,000 in cash seized by the Cab in one of the first of a series of bureau cases aimed at those in the low and middle ranks of drug crime.
The annual report shows that the agency collected more than €19 million in unpaid taxes from suspected criminals last year. It secured High Court orders in separate attempts to seize €8.5 million of the proceeds of crime.
Mr Lenihan said the report displayed the Cab's success in pursuing those who profit from crime. "The bureau remains an important and integral element in the fight against crime. The valuable work undertaken by the bureau helps to ensure that crime does not pay," he said.
He commended the agency for developing international links, which help ensure that the proceeds of crime are tracked down regardless of location.
In 2006, the Cab also made social welfare savings of €297,000 and recovered more than €139,704 in illegally-obtained benefits.
It was set up in 1996 after the murders of Veronica Guerin and Det Garda Jerry McCabe. In its first decade, it secured High Court orders to seize €90 million worth of illegal assets.
In the same period, it collected €108 million in unpaid taxes and interest. Social welfare savings totalled almost €3 million and the recovery of overpayments came to more than €2 million.
Under 1996 legislation establishing the Cab, the agency can apply to the High Court for an interim order to freeze assets which can be shown to be the proceeds of crime.
The bureau can then seek an interlocutory (or final restraint) order which freezes the specified property for a period of seven years.
The Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2005 gave more powers to Cab officers. Illegal assets can now be sold off without having to await the expiry of the seven-year period.
Foreign criminality can also now be taken into account in assessing whether assets are the proceeds of crime.
Cab report 2006: by the numbers
€19 million:collected in unpaid taxes from suspected criminals
€8.5 million:worth of orders secured in High Court to seize proceeds of crime
€297,000:social welfare savings
€139,704:amount recovered in illegally obtained welfare benefits
