MORE THAN €14.9m of illegal money was given to the public purse last year from the operations of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). 

The annual report of CAB, a joint organisation of gardaí, Revenue and other agencies which targets criminal’s money and assets, will be given to cabinet tomorrow. 

The Bureau’s operations are aimed at targeting the earnings of organised criminals and give the funds raised to the Exchequer. The total returned to the public purse in 2025 was €14,925,788.

The agency sold 18 forfeited properties in 2025, which made €4.377m. It also carried out 37 search operations including in three foreign countries. 

The report outlines that during 2025 the Bureau received 366 Good Citizen Reports which is down on the figure of 408 in 2024. These are tips from members of the public. 

The Bureau Legal Officer was also appointed as receiver for 115 assets during 2025. This included being appointed receiver of rent from commercial properties which stops the alleged criminal from benefiting from the proceeds of crime.

On a national level CAB has continued to grow its network of garda trained Divisional Asset Profilers – they now number 439. It is generally detectives at local level who are trained to identify and target criminals. 

The report also sets out the liaisons with other police forces and agencies outside the country, including through Interpol and Europol. They particularly mention the National Crime Agency and Revenue Customs in Britain.

It has deepened its connections with the European Union funded Camden Asset Recovery Inter Agency Network (CARIN), and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Bureau also continues to represent Ireland on the platform of the Asset Recovery Network.

This was further demonstrated in 2025 as the Bureau received 132 requests for assistance from 21 countries. The Bureau made 23 requests to seven different countries worldwide compared to 33 requests to 17 countries during 2024.

CAB said it has been working to build a greater understanding of how criminals are using cryptocurrencies worldwide.

The Bureau said it is monitoring and targeting emerging trends such as the use of the motor trade to conceal criminal assets. This is a well beaten path and the Kinahan Organised Crime Group has used fake car dealerships to launder money. 

Bureau chief Michael Gubbins mentioned in the report that there have been talks with the Department of Justice and the Office of Public Works since 2022 to find “suitable accommodation that will satisfactorily support the Bureau’s remit and planned expansion for the future”.

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has paid tribute to CAB for its work.  

“For the past 30 years Irish criminal gangs and their revenue streams have been relentlessly pursued and dismantled by CAB.

“In those 30 years since CAB was established, €200million was seized and returned to the exchequer which lead to significant prosecutions and disruption to major criminal networks.

“I also want to recognise a range of national and international agencies and bodies who work with the Criminal Assets Bureau and An Garda Siochana including the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social Protection, Interpol and Europol,” he said.