CAB raids in Donegal linked to international drug-trafficking crime gang

A large scale swoop by the Criminal Assets Bureau on properties in Donegal has been linked to a notorious international crime gang.

The drug trafficking gang is now said to have 'extensive links' to Donegal.

CAB officers, with the assistance of several units of An Garda Síochána, swooped on properties in Donegal on Wednesday morning.

A simultaneous operation took place in the Dublin area.

The operation was carried out as part of a CAB investigation into the assets of persons who are suspected of being involved in drug trafficking on an international scale.

The organised crime gang at the centre of the probe is said to have 'extensive links' to Donegal, north Dublin as well as Scotland, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.

The operation was conducted with support of Gardaí from the Milford District and others across the Donegal Division, the Regional Armed Support Unit, the Customs Dog Unit and members of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

A 2023 reg Volvo XC90, around €73,000 in a bank account, electronic devices and financial documents were among the items either seized or frozen as a result of an operation which involved a total of 70 personnel and 23 different searches.

They included operations at dwellings, business premises and professional searches.

A CAB spokesperson said: “Today’s search operation was conducted as part of an on-going proceeds of crime investigation targeting assets, including real estate, deriving in whole or in part from the proceeds of criminal activity.

“This particular investigation was supported by a number of food citizens reports (GCR’s) and also the assistance of a divisional assets profiler.”