THESE dramatic images show the immediate aftermath of the massive Garda operation, involving the Criminal Assets Bureau and a total of 130 Gardai, staged in Killarney this morning.
As exclusively revealed by KillarneyToday.com earlier today, the raids resulted in several high-end vehicles, huge amounts of cash and thousands of euro worth of designer jewellery being seized.
A total of 11 residential properties, mainly in the Ballyspillane estate, were raided in the early morning probe which was the biggest ever Garda investigation of its kind in Kerry.
The events were part of Operation Tarmac – a nationwide no-nonsense crackdown on rogue tradesmen being investigated for making exorbitant sums of money from shoddy workmanship.
Gardaí from the Kerry and Cork area, Criminal Assets Bureau officers and scene of crime investigators were backed up by the armed support unit and the public order unit when the raids commenced just after 6.00am.
A total of nine luxury vehicles, including BMW jeeps, Audi, Mercedez Benz and Volkswagen, with an estimated total value of in excess of €400,000, were seized.
Gardaí also found over €100,000 hidden – as well as wads of sterling – in the houses as well as expensive jewellery, including Rolex and Cartier watches and Louis Vuitton designer goods, worth thousands of euro.
Bank accounts, understood to be holding significant cash deposits, have been frozen throughout the country and several documents have been taken from the Killarney houses to be evaluated and assessed.
The massive Garda operation was spearheaded by Supt Flor Murphy and senior detectives from Killarney Garda Station.
KillarneyToday.com: To book Christmas advertising call 087-2229761 or email news@killarneytoday.com
