Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 21667Extortion; burglary; perverting the course of justice · Co. Dublin · 1 Sep 2021

Gardaí arrested over alleged extortion of delivery drivers in Dublin

The Garda Anti-Corruption Unit has been investigating since late 2021 claims that rogue officers in Dublin were targeting foreign food delivery drivers, including two Brazilian victims, forcing them to hand over sums of typically around €50 or less to continue working. The probe stems from a September 2021 incident in which a female Deliveroo rider alleged two men presenting as gardaí searched her home and that money and other items were later found missing. Four gardaí have been suspended over the course of the investigation, and in March 2023 a number of Dublin-based officers were arrested on suspicion of extortion, burglary, and perverting the course of justice before being released without charge. A file is expected to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the alleged ringleader, a sergeant, has not yet been arrested.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested21 Mar
    3 reports
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Rogue Garda officers attached to a unit in Dublin were allegedly targeting foreign food delivery drivers, forcing them to hand over sums of typically around €50 or less to continue working.
  • A female Deliveroo rider alleged that two men presenting as gardaí searched her home and that money and other items were later found missing.
  • One of those arrested is suspected of breaking into the home of a food delivery worker as part of the alleged extortion.
  • Another arrested garda is suspected of attempting to pervert the course of justice by giving a false alibi.
When
The alleged extortion incidents date from September 2021, and the ACU investigation began in late 2021.
Where
The incidents and the investigation took place in Dublin.
Cause
Some victims paid the money over fears they could be prosecuted for road traffic or immigration offences.
Investigation
  • The Garda Anti-Corruption Unit, led by Chief Superintendent Johanna O'Leary, has been investigating since late 2021, including searching a Dublin Garda station and garda lockers.
  • Four gardaí have been suspended over the course of the investigation.
  • In March 2023, a number of Dublin-based gardaí were arrested by ACU detectives, quizzed, and released without charge.
In court
A file is expected to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide if any member should be charged.
Other details
  • The alleged ringleader, a sergeant, has not yet been arrested.
  • Photo-fits of the two men who searched the rider's home were circulated, and one later came forward saying he believed he was on a legitimate policing task.
34 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe investigation examines claims that rogue officers attached to a Garda unit were deliberately targeting foreign delivery drivers in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe two men searched the woman's property saying they had a warrant, and she later complained that an amount of money had been stolen. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe woman said the two men searched her property saying they had a warrant, and later complained that money had been stolen. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatRiders were allegedly forced to hand over sums of money, typically around €50 or less, to continue working. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOne of those arrested is suspected of breaking into the home of a food delivery worker as part of the alleged extortion. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAnother arrested garda is suspected of attempting to pervert the course of justice. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe investigation started when a female Deliveroo rider claimed she was stopped by two men who presented as gardaí before they carried out a search at her home. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAfter the search, the woman claimed a number of items, including money, were missing. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe investigation stems from an alleged incident in September 2021 in which a female Deliveroo worker alleged two men claiming to be gardai searched her. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • causeSome victims paid the money over fears they could be prosecuted for road traffic or immigration offences. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe Garda Anti-Corruption Unit has been investigating the case since late 2021. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationAt the end of 2021 the ACU searched a Dublin Garda station and three more officers were suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationACU detectives searched a number of lockers in a Garda station in the city as part of the probe. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationAt the end of the year, the ACU searched a Dublin Garda station and three more officers were suspended. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe arrested gardai were held in a Garda station in another part of the city, quizzed by ACU detectives, and released without charge. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationA file is expected to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide if any member should be charged. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationACU detectives searched a number of lockers in a Garda station in the city. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationA number of Dublin-based gardaí have been arrested by anti-corruption officers investigating the alleged extortion of food delivery workers. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationFour gardaí have been suspended over the course of the investigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationAll those arrested have since been released and the investigation is continuing. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe investigation is being carried out by the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationSeveral searches have been carried out, including at a Garda station and of garda lockers. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationPhoto-fits of the men were circulated, leading to one suspect coming forward and saying he believed he was engaged in a legitimate search. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGarda headquarters appointed a senior officer to carry out a scoping exercise which was then upgraded to a formal criminal investigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeAnother garda was quizzed on suspicion of perverting the course of justice for allegedly giving a false alibi. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtA file is likely to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide if any member of the force should be charged. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherFour members of An Garda Síochána are suspended from duty as part of the investigation. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • otherAn evo-fit of the two suspects was circulated, but it later emerged both men were serving garda members. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherOne of the two men recognised himself from the evo-fit and came forward to say he believed he was on a legitimate policing task at the time. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe arrested officers were held in a Garda station in another part of the city, quizzed by ACU detectives, and released without charge. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherACU is led by Chief Superintendent Johanna O'Leary. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherBoth men turned out to be serving garda members after one recognised himself from the evo-fit. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe ACU is led by Chief Superintendent Johanna O'Leary. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe ringleader of the alleged extortion, a sergeant, has not yet been arrested. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Mar2023
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, its first report
    Gardaí arrested over alleged food delivery rider extortion racket

    Reports the arrest of multiple Dublin-based gardaí by the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit in connection with an alleged extortion racket targeting food delivery riders, with the investigation ongoing and the ringleader (a sergeant) not yet arrested.

    suspectsuspectvictim, femalesuspect, malesuspect, male
  2. 21 Mar2023
    Arresteddublinlive.ie, its first report
    Gardai arrested over alleged shakedown of food delivery drivers in Dublin

    Reports that several gardai have been arrested and released without charge as part of the ACU's criminal probe into the alleged shakedown; four officers are suspended; a file is expected to go to the DPP.

    suspectsuspectsuspectvictim, femalevictim, Brazilian, non-irish
  3. 21 Mar2023
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Gardai arrested over alleged shakedown of food delivery drivers in Dublin

    Reports that several Garda officers have been arrested and released without charge as part of the ACU criminal probe into the alleged shakedown, with four officers suspended and further arrests expected in the coming weeks before a file is sent to the DPP.

    victim, male, Brazilian, non-irishvictim, femalesuspect, malesuspect, male