That is a lot of cash.
Cash in excess of €1 million has been seized by members of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) during an operation in Kildare on Friday (8 January).
At 6.30am this morning, Gardaí intercepted a van on the M7 in the Kildare area.
In the course of a search of the van, a substantial amount of cash was located and seized, estimated to be in excess of €1,000,000.
In the course of the operation, one male, aged 45 years, was arrested and is currently detained.
He was arrested on suspicion of involvement in participating in the activities of a criminal organisation to facilitate money laundering, relating to the suspected proceeds of drug trafficking.
A number of follow up searches were undertaken in the midlands, resulting in the seizure of an additional sum of cash estimated to be approximately €10,000.
Speaking today Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll, who heads Organised and Serious Crime, within An Garda Síochána, said: "An Garda Síochána continues to pursue organised crime groups who are believed to involved in supplying illicit drugs within our communities, the motivation for which is financial gain.
"We again today have made a significant advance in our attempt to dismantle organised crime groups, by locating and seizing the suspected proceeds of their criminal activity.
"Despite our significant commitment to tackling issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, at this time, An Garda Síochána remains focused on protecting communities from serious and organised crime, including cyber enabled crime, drug trafficking and associated money laundering."
Investigations are ongoing.
