Breaking News - 30 raids in motor trade investigation

brightkane · 12-12-2007 4:19pm #1

From Rte.ie

"Gardaí and customs officers have searched 30 homes, car sales showrooms and accountants and solicitors offices as part of a criminal investigation into tax irregularities in the motor trade.

Forty luxury cars, including Bentleys, Range Rovers and Mercedes in five Dublin garages have been detained by customs officers checking VRT payments.

An official in the Revenue Commissioner has been arrested in Finglas and is being questioned at Blanchardstown Garda Station.

AdvertisementA 9mm handgun was also found in one of the warehouses connected to a car showroom.

The Criminal Assets Bureau's Operation Tie was set up to investigate revenue irregularities and profits deriving from criminal activity in the motor trade.

They have long suspected car salesmen of importing high spec cars but only paying VRT on them at the basic rate, keeping between €5000 and €20,000 per car

Between 6am and 9am this morning CAB officers, customs officials and gardaí from the Organised Crime Unit searched 30 houses, garages and accountants and solicitors offices.

They took away a large amount of documentation and computer discs.

Up to 40 cars including Bentley's, Range Rovers and Mercedes were detained as Customs Officers checked VRT payments.

A 9mm handgun was found in one of the garages.

One man in his 50's was arrested and is currently detained at Blanchardstown Garda Station.

He has worked in the Revenue Commissioners for more than 30 years and gardaí believe he is the inside man, who processed the fraudulent VRT returns on behalf of the car dealers"

Discuss..................

edit: source link added

mike65 · 12-12-2007 4:53pm

Heard that earlier. Good to see the CAB being deployed, I bet there's millions to be claimed with a bit of digging.

I'd love to know at which garage the gun was found. Confirms what we always knew.

the katy french angle.

Mike.

bucks · 12-12-2007 5:03pm

Yeah i heard that report on the radio, fair play to the customs and gardai !

Seth Brundle · 12-12-2007 5:05pm

The CAB were also busy checking out a dealer in Saggart as part of the investigation into Katy French's death
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/raid-on-katy-driver-firm-1245164.html

Raid on Katy driver firm

Wednesday December 12 2007

Detectives today raided the businesses of a car dealer who transported celebrity model Katy French around Dublin. Members of the garda’s Criminal Assets Bureau staged raids on Lee Cullen’s business premises in Saggart this morning. CAB agents from Harcourt Square were backed up by armed detectives from other garda units. Cullen has already paid over €2m to the CAB.

Katy French, who died of a suspected cocaine overdose, was regularly driven around in high-powered cars owned by Cullen, whose company, Exclusive Cars, is based near City-West.

This morning, officers moved in on Cullen’s business in Fortunestown Way, Saggart, as their investigation into Ms French’s death widened. Cullen was exposed earlier this year as being part of major probe into dodgy car dealers. The businessman is suspected of using his company as a front for a major money-laundering operation.

He has already paid the Criminal Assets Bureau in excess of €2m and is still under active investigation.

The raid comes as detectives continue to interview friends and colleagues of Katy French. Before dawn gardai in unmarked cars lay in wait at the plush premises before suddenly arriving at the front door at 9.15am.

Between a dozen and 20 gardai and customs men, some in plain clothes and some in identifiable garda or customs jackets, spread out as soon as they entered the building.

Through the massive glass windows in the Exclusive Car showrooms, the teams could be seen leafing through files in offices, and walking balconies and stairs.

In the car park and the showrooms were dozens of expensive luxury cars and four-wheel drives ranging from Hummer limousines to Porches and expensive Hondas.

Cars and engines were also checked by customs officials.
(irrelevant KF related info snipped)