What happened?

A man has been arrested after being identified as a suspected money mule herder following the search of a residence in West Tallaght, Dublin.

Gardaí from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) carried out a search at the property as part of a larger investigation into incidents of fraud in Norway, Germany, the US, Hawaii and Ireland.

The investigation also looked into the subsequent laundering of money through money mule accounts, businesses, and trade-based money laundering operations.

"Up to 50 different money mules have been identified as having laundered over €196,000 through his bank accounts in Ireland, Germany and Belgium," a Garda spokesperson said.

"This money came from victims of mainly smishing frauds in Ireland, was initially laundered through these 50 money mule accounts and then forwarded by the money mules to the suspects' three bank accounts."

During the course of the search, a number of items, including a "high value" Range Rover, which was suspected to have been purchased with the proceeds of crime, were seized.

The following items were also seized:

• A number of passports;
• Bank cards in family names and names of suspected money mules;
• Bank account details;
• Details of registered companies and businesses;
• Cash in euros and dollars;
• A note teller (cash counting machine);
• 30 mobile phones;
• A desktop computer and laptop.

Source: ​https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/courtandcrime/arid-41205400.html

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Man charged over €6.5m cryptocurrency seizure in Dublin [August 8, 2024]

​1. Summary

• A man has appeared in court following the seizure of €6.5m (£5.6m) worth of cryptocurrency in County Dublin.
• The seizure was part of an investigation into the sale of illegal material on darknet markets and money laundering.
• The 23-year-old man is facing three counts of money laundering.
• Det Garda Ciaran Byrne from the GNCCB told the court that the suspect had been cautioned and arrested at Kevin Street Garda station, and had made no reply to the charges.
• The three money laundering charges are that on dates between March 2021 and September 2022 that he concealed and disguised the nature and source of 42 separate Binance transactions to the value of more than €34,000, knowing them to be the proceeds of criminal activity.
• Another charge relates to more than €22,000 worth of Wirex transactions whilst the final charge relates to the concealment of more than 1,800 Revolut transactions worth more than €227,000, knowing they were the proceeds of criminal conduct on dates between February 2021 and June 2024.
• The suspect was released on bail and is due to appear again in court on 3 October.