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The 100 items, which were seized due to being the proceeds of crime, are available in a timed online auction, from 1pm today until 1pm on Monday, December 4, through Wilsons Auctions.
Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Gubbins, Chief Bureau Officer with the Criminal Assets Bureau said the website has already garnered over 350,000 hits, with interest registered from as far as New Zealand and the US.
“Since the start of the Bureau, criminals have flaunted their wealth, it’s the clothes that they wear, it’s the lifestyle that they lead, the cars that they drive, the extensions to their houses,” he said.
Chief Supt Gubbins said CAB relies heavily on members of the public who so far this year, have sent in 222 ‘good citizens reports’ on those in their community who have been flaunting their wealth.
“These reports come in the form of handwritten and typed letters, email messages and messages received privately through our Facebook page or by telephone calls,” he said.
The items being auctioned over the weekend include 46 watches, assorted jewellery and a variety of designer goods, ranging in value from €400 to €40,000.
A one ounce gold bar, Prada Corsaire velvet crossbody bag, 14ct gold diamond bracelet and a Moncler, Two-Tone Harry Giubbotto jacket are some of the luxurious items sure to drive a bargain.
In the past two months, CAB has successfully sold 12 properties and 30 high-value vehicles.
The Bureau currently has 1,475 targets, 23 of which reside outside the state, with half of those living within the Dublin Metropolitan Region and the rest are spread throughout the country.
“The Bureau’s targets continue to flaunt their criminal acquired wealth through the purchase of luxury designer goods, such as handbags, clothing, watches and jewellery. They also live a lavish lifestyle that goes beyond their legitimate means,” Chief Supt Gubbins said.
Last year, 18 new applications were brought before the High Court under the Proceeds of Crime Legislation, with the majority of the them relating to proceeds derived from drug trafficking.
In the same period, CAB completed 49 search operations, consisting of 134 individual searches across 20 counties, targeting Organised Crime Groups.
The sale of the assets seized is done in accordance with the orders of the High Court.
Since the establishment CAB in 1996, to the end of 2022, the Bureau has returned over €35 million through the Proceeds of crime legislation and €160 million in tax debts from criminals.
Chief Supt Gubbins said that the good news is that the money taken from selling these houses, cars and high value goods can make its way back to the community via the new initiative which supports investment in community safety projects under the Department of Justice.
However, he stressed that when browsing the catalogue there is one thing we must keep in mind.
“In acquiring some of these assets, criminals have created victims and use fear and intimidation to pursue their life of crime and leave behind them a trail of destruction which impacts the community.”
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