Criminal assets of almost £12 million have been restrained or confiscated in Northern Ireland over the last year, it was revealed today.
With the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) preparing to mount legal action against at least a dozen more people, Security Minister Shaun Woodward also disclosed that 28 top-level criminal gangs had been broken up or disrupted.
But a business conference in Belfast was told that more needed to be done in an attempt to rid the country of organised crime, "not just by the law enforcement agencies and government, but by industry, by the public and their political representatives".
It is understood the ARA in Northern Ireland is planning High Court legal proceedings over the next two months in a bid to freeze or seize assets belonging to around 14 people suspected of raising money through crime, including money laundering and smuggling.
The International Monitoring Commission is due to publish its latest report tomorrow and is likely to deliver a new assessment on the scale of their continuing involvement in organised crime.
Counterfeit goods worth £7 million were also confiscated by police over the last 12 months, according to Mr Woodward at today's conference.
He said the business community had a vital role to play in helping to drive down tolerance of criminals. The minister added: "There are no quick fixes. Organised crime is complex and embedded in communities.
"Criminals show a blatant disregard for public safety and often prey on the most vulnerable in our society. Their only concern is to make money, and it is in all our interests to prevent that happening."
PA