Gardaí have been liaising with the FBI to target the activity of cybercriminals.
The Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) has arrested two people in Cork in connection with an ongoing investigation into transnational cybercrime.
In a statement, a Garda spokesperson said the GNCCB in conjunction with the FBI has been conducting parallel investigations into the sale of illicit items online.
These include ransomware as a service, personal banking details, credit card details and false documents such as passports and driving licences.
With assistance from local operational units in the Cork city area, the GNCCB conducted a number of searches on Thursday (12 May).
A man, aged 40, and a woman, aged 42, were arrested for suspected money laundering offences.
They are being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 in separate Garda Stations in Cork.
Property and assets, including crypto assets, have been seized, while computers are being forensically examined for evidential content.
With assistance from the Garda Liaison Officer in Washington and the FBI Legal Attaché based in London, the GNCCB has been liaising with the FBI in recent months for the purpose of targeting the activities of cybercriminals.
"An Garda Síochána considers these arrests as significant in the context of transnational cybercrime and today’s action highlights the continued international law enforcement co-operation and commitment in tackling cybercrime," Detective Superintendent Pat Ryan of the GNCCB said.
