GLOBAL SCAM

Cops nab ‘money mule herder’, 22, suspected of working for infamous Black Axe gang as shock laundered cash sum revealed

• Published: 18:10, 15 Aug 2023
• Updated: 18:10, 15 Aug 2023

AN infamous crime group called the Black Axe gang have laundered more than €65million through Irish accounts over the last five years.

Our revelation comes after a suspected “money mule herder”, 22, was arrested by investigators from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau on Monday.

The suspect is believed to work directly for one of the mob’s main players currently operating in Ireland.

He’s also suspected of transferring funds from online frauds into his own personal accounts.

We can also reveal he was arrested as he was about to meet another suspect who had just travelled to Dublin from the UK.

One source said: “This is yet another significant arrest and the suspect was acting on the orders of one of the main gang m

“His full time job was fraud and he had a lot of money going through various bank accounts.”

The scams include romance fraud and business email compromise frauds.

During the latest crackdown on the gang, investigators seized a luxury Range Rover they believe was bought through the proceeds of crime.

Officers also seized passports, bank cards in the names of family members and suspected money mules, bank account details and details of companies used to launder cash.

Gardai also seized €7,000 in cash, a cash counting machine, thirty mobile phones, a desktop computer and laptop.

The young suspect is believed to be a “money mule herder” whose job was to recruit money mules and manage their bank accounts.

He’s also linked to ongoing fraud investigations in Norway, Germany, America and Hawaii.

As part of the investigation, up to 50 different money mules are identified as having laundered over €196,000 through his accounts in Ireland, Germany, and Belgium.

The cash came from ‘smishing’ frauds in Ireland and was initially laundered through fifty mules accounts before being transferred to the suspect’s three bank accounts.

Det Supt Michael Cryan from the GNECB said: “People who open accounts or allow their accounts to be used by these professional gangs should also realise that they can face very serious charges, including money laundering.”

BANK WORKERS ARRESTED

The news comes after five bank workers were 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 offences.

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’.