One man remains in custody.

17 people have been arrested following an investigation into Covid-19 welfare fraud in Ireland. The Garda National Immigration Bureau led a multi-agency search operation of a number of business premises in Dublin city centre on Thursday, 4 November. The operation, which was conducted by personnel from the Garda National Immigration Bureau and Mountjoy Garda Station alongside representatives from the Workplace Relations Commission, the Department of Social Protection and Irish Revenue. Five business premises in total were searched with the aim of disrupting, eliminating and prosecuting fraudulent Covid social welfare activity. Nine men and eight women ranged in age from 20s to 60s were subsequently arrested for immigration offences. 16 of those arrested have been charged and bailed. They will appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on 18 November. One man aged in his 50s remains in custody and is scheduled to appear before Dublin District Court on Friday morning in relation to an outstanding bench warrant.