Ireland Dublin premises raided in Europol PPE fraud investigation
A gang of nationals from various African countries resident in Europe has been under investigation since 2017 for defrauding companies in at least 20 countries of an estimated €1 million by selling fictitious wholesale goods and PPE through fake websites and emails. On 11 August 2021, Gardaí raided a premises in Dublin's north inner city following a mutual assistance request from Europol, while 33 other raids were carried out in Romania and the Netherlands. Twenty-three suspects were arrested in Romania and the Netherlands, while Gardaí made no arrests in Dublin but seized €9,500 in cash, phones and laptops. The investigation is ongoing.
- Reported11 Aug
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A gang of nationals from various African countries resident in Europe defrauded companies in at least 20 countries of an estimated €1 million by selling fictitious wholesale goods and PPE through fake websites and emails.
- The gang originally offered fictitious wholesale items including wooden pellets before switching to PPE such as facemasks during the pandemic.
- The defrauded money was laundered through Romanian bank accounts.
- Where
- The search took place in the north inner city of Dublin.
- When
- The raid in Dublin took place on 11 August 2021.
- The gang has been under investigation in various jurisdictions since 2017.
- Investigation
- The raid followed a mutual assistance request from Europol.
- Thirty-three other raids were carried out in Romania and the Netherlands, where 23 suspects were arrested.
- Gardaí made no arrests in Dublin but seized €9,500 in cash, phones and laptops.
- Other details
- A Roscommon businessman served as an unwitting middleman for an international €15 million facemask scam and was interviewed in April 2020, but no charges were brought against him.
- It is the second major operation targeting PPE fraud involving gardaí since the pandemic.
18 statements extracted from the articles
- what33 other raids against the gang were carried out in Romania and the Netherlands (irishtimes.com)
- what23 suspects were arrested in Romania and the Netherlands (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí made no arrests in Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- what€9,500 in cash, phones and laptops were seized in Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe gang is believed to have defrauded companies in at least 20 countries of an estimated €1 million (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe gang originally offered fictitious wholesale items including wooden pellets (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe gang switched to offering PPE such as facemasks during the pandemic (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe gang mainly targeted companies in Europe and Asia (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe gang is made up of nationals from various African countries resident in Europe (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe defrauded money is laundered through Romanian bank accounts (irishtimes.com)
- whatIt is the second major operation targeting PPE fraud involving gardaí since the pandemic (irishtimes.com)
- whatA Roscommon businessman served as unwitting middleman for an international €15 million facemask scam (irishtimes.com)
- whatNo charges were brought against the Roscommon businessman (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe search took place in the north inner city of Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe raid in Dublin took place on Tuesday, 11 August 2021 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe gang has been under investigation since 2017 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe Roscommon businessman was interviewed in April 2020 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe raid followed a mutual assistance request from Europol (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 11 Aug2021Gardaí raid Dublin premises as part of EU operation against fraud
Reports the Dublin raid as part of a multi-country Europol operation against a PPE fraud gang; 23 suspects arrested in Romania and Netherlands; €9,500 cash, phones and laptops seized in Dublin; investigation ongoing.