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COP CRACKDOWN

Five bankers lifted by Gardai after major ‘Black Axe’ raid on one of the world’s most prolific fraud gang

FIVE bank workers have been arrested as part of the Gardai’s latest crackdown on one of the world’s most prolific fraud gangs, the Irish Sun can reveal.

The financial employees were lifted by investigators from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau under the latest phase of ‘Operation Skein’.

The operation – which also coincided with raids in 21 other countries by Interpol under ‘Operation Jackal’ – was aimed at the ‘Black AXE’ gang.

The mob – who are based in west Africa – sent members around the world to commit a wide range of frauds.

During the latest phase of the operation, first launched by the GNECB in 2020, 33 people were arrested and charged with money laundering, nine people arrested under organised crime legislation, four people lifted for money laundering offences and nine incidents of stolen money recovered from foreign bank accounts.

Over €400,000 in cash was also recovered, three premises searched in Dublin, Wicklow and Longford, and one person charged with money laundering and gangland off

The latest phase of the operation took place between March and May of this year.

We can also reveal some of those lifted under organised crime legislation have been arrested for participating in and also directing the activities of an organised crime gang and are regarded as leaders of the mob.

Others included ‘money mules’, ‘fixers’, and ‘money mule herders’.

One source said: “Detectives are trying to establish if the gang recruited the bank workers to help them gain access to accounts.

“There’s also a concern that they have placed members in IT companies to gain access to people’s data.”

During the latest phase of the operation, searches were undertaken to gather evidence and arrests made after the Director of Public Prosecutions ruled there was enough evidence to charge people with various fraud offences.

Local Gardai in Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Limerick, Kerry, Laois, Longford and Cork were also involved in the operations.

Cash was also recovered after companies were hit with ‘business email compromise’ fraud scams.

It included the recovery of €98,000 that was transferred to an account in Portugal and €76,000 recovered from a victim who was buying an apartment in Spain.

In cases involving seven Irish companies, €475,000 was stolen and over €400,000 recovered by the GNECB.

OPERATION SKEIN

Speaking about Operation Skein, Det Supt Michael Cryan from the GNECB said: “The 34 persons arrested and charged as part of this phase of Operation SKEIN were involved in money laundering.

“These persons were facilitating the criminal activities of organised crime groups by allowing their bank accounts to be used to move criminally gained money.

“They also facilitated and contributed to the theft of money from other individuals and companies – this is a crime.

“These persons face a criminal conviction and the long term impacts of such a conviction.”

Since the launch of the operation in 2020, Gardai have made 377 arrests and charged over 200 people with a range of offences.