File photograph: Bryan O’BrienA woman in her 20s has been arrested by gardaí as part of an investigation into the alleged use of fraudulent European passports to launder more than €160,000. The woman was arrested and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act at a Garda station in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. The latest search was part of Operation Skein, a continuing operation in which the GNECB works with law-enforcement partners across several jurisdictions to target international fraud. “This co-ordinated international approach reflects the scale and sophistication of the criminal network under investigation,” a statement said. In February, gardaí carried out a number of searches under Operation Skein related to the international Black Axe fraud and money laundering gang.

Source: The Irish Times March 31, 2026 21:20 UTC