Ireland Case No. 1932Money laundering (handling crime proceeds) · Co. Dublin · 13 Jun 2024
Ukrainian man jailed for five years over money laundering in Dublin
On 13 June 2024, officers of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau raided a rented property in Knocklyon, Dublin 16, and seized €1,058,575 and £60 in cash, a money counting machine, and financial ledgers. Two men were arrested, including 35-year-old Ukrainian national Oleksandr Strymbu, while a second man aged 44 was later released without charge. Strymbu was charged under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 with handling the proceeds of crime and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 3 April 2025. The operation was linked to an Eastern European drugs gang.
- Reported14 Jun
- Arrested14 Jun
3 reports - Charged13 Jun
- In court15 Jun
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced3 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí seized €1,058,575 and £60 in cash, a money counting machine, and financial ledgers in a raid on a residential property.
- Where
- The raid took place at a rented property in Knocklyon, Dublin 16 (one report says Dublin 15).
- When
- The seizure took place on 13 June 2024.
- Investigation
- The operation was carried out by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau on an intelligence-led basis targeting organised crime in Dublin.
- Two men, aged 35 and 44, were arrested on suspicion of facilitating an organised crime group under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006; a second individual was released without charge with a file to the DPP.
- Charges
- Oleksandr Strymbu was charged under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 with handling €1,058,575-worth of crime proceeds.
- In court
- Strymbu pleaded guilty to handling the proceeds of crime at his address in Beverly Downs, Knocklyon, on 13 June 2024.
- Sentence
- Strymbu was sentenced to five years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 3 April 2025.
- Other details
- The cash was found in six shopping and gift bags in his bedroom, some in vacuum packs and some gathered with elastic bands, with a further €25,900 in an upstairs bedroom.
- Strymbu told gardaí he was tasked with carrying out collections for his housemate, who was also his brother-in-law, and that he was not paid but received fuel money and food.
- Sources linked the cash to an Eastern European drugs gang known as The Family.
- Strymbu is a married father of two who worked in construction in Ireland and was out of work at the time of the hearing.
65 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí seized €1 million in cash in connection with an investigation. (garda.ie)
- whatGardaí made a massive seizure in a raid. (extra.ie)
- whatGardaí dismantled a money laundering operation linked to an Eastern European drugs gang and seized €1 million. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCash in excess of €1 million was recovered. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA money counting machine and financial ledgers were also recovered. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí seized just over €1 million in cash. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe alleged proceeds of crime were cash valued at €1,058,575 and £60. (irishtimes.com)
- whatOleksandr Strymbu was jailed for five years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMore than €1 million in cash was found in six shopping and gift bags in his bedroom. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSome of the cash was in vacuum packs and some was gathered with elastic bands. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA cash-counting machine was found on the coffee table. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA further €25,900 in cash was found in an upstairs bedroom. (irishtimes.com)
- whatStrymbu said he was tasked with carrying out collections for his housemate, who was also his brother-in-law. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe said he would travel to various locations in a van and hand over Ukrainian bank notes to a person, who would then put a bag in the van. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe said he did not know how much cash was in the bags or where the money came from. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe said he was not getting paid but would get money for fuel and be taken out for food. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe seizure took place in Knocklyon, Dublin 16. (garda.ie)
- whereGardaí raided a residential property in Knocklyon, Dublin 15. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe search was of a residence in the Knocklyon area of Dublin 16. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe operation took place in south Dublin, with the cash seized in a house in Knocklyon. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe accused had an address at Beverly Downs, Knocklyon, Dublin 16. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe search took place at his rented home in Beverly Downs, Knocklyon, Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe seizure took place on 13 June 2024. (garda.ie)
- whenThe raid took place on a Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe operation took place on Thursday night. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe alleged offence took place on June 13th. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA second individual has been released without charge, and a file will be prepared for the DPP. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe operation was carried out by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau on the basis of intelligence. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe search was carried out by officers of the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe operation targeted organised crime in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationTwo men were arrested. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe men, aged 35 and 44, were arrested on suspicion of facilitating or enhancing the ability of an organised crime group to commit a serious offence, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí said investigations are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí said the raid was an intelligence-led operation. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí recovered cash in excess of €1 million, a money counting machine and financial ledgers. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe detective had no evidence on hand of the accused's financial means and would have to make enquiries. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeA man in his 30s arrested in connection with the investigation has been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeTwo men were arrested on suspicion of facilitating or enhancing an organised crime group's ability to commit a serious offence. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeTwo males aged 35 and 44 were arrested on suspicion of facilitating or enhancing the ability of an organised crime group to commit a serious offence, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe was charged under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act, 2010. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to handling €1,058,575-worth of crime proceeds. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe charged man is due to appear before Dublin District Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice at 4pm on 15 June 2024. (garda.ie)
- courtHe appeared before a special sitting of Dublin District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe made no bail application, and his solicitor said he was reserving his position on bail. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge remanded him in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court on June 19th. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was granted legal aid. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceStrymbu was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe headline refers to €1million. (extra.ie)
- otherThe two men are being held for questioning at a Garda station in the Dublin area. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBoth men are being detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Garda station in the Dublin area. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe two men were detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Garda station in the Dublin area. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSources say the cash is linked to The Family gang. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherTwo foreign nationals were arrested in the operation. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherInvestigations are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe was arrested at Clondalkin Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe is a married father with two children. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe was out of work at the time of the hearing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe was assigned a Ukrainian interpreter during the court proceedings. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe was cautioned in the usual manner and given a true copy of the charge sheet. (irishtimes.com)
- otherStrymbu described himself as an idiot to gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe had not had any visits since being taken into custody in June. (irishtimes.com)
- otherStrymbu worked in construction in Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe now works in the prison kitchen seven days a week and attends school Monday to Friday. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí believed the money came from the drugs trade. (irishtimes.com)
- otherJudge Nolan said Strymbu was a vital cog in the criminal organisation and at least in the middle of the hierarchy. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 3 Apr2025Man (35) jailed for money laundering after gardaí found €1m cash in bedroom
Sentencing report: Strymbu received five years' imprisonment. The court heard details of the search, his role as a courier for his brother-in-law, and mitigation including his family remaining in Ukraine and his work in the prison kitchen.
suspect, Oleksandr Strymbu, 35, male, Ukrainian, named, non-irishOleksandr Strymbu - 15 Jun2024Man charged with laundering over €1 million in criminal cash at Dublin 16 address
First report of the charge against Oleksandr Strymbu, the court appearance, the remand in custody and the next court date of 19 June.
accused, Oleksandr Strymbu, 35, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Oleksandr Strymbu - 14 Jun2024Gardai deliver €1m hammer blow to one of Ireland’s biggest gangs as two arrested
Adds the arrest of two men aged 35 and 44 under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, the seizure of a money counting machine and financial ledgers, and sources linking the cash to The Family gang.
suspect, 35, malesuspect, 44, male - 14 Jun2024Two men arrested as gardai seize more than €1 million in cash in Dublin raid
Earlier report of the arrests and seizure, before the charge in the existing case. Adds the second man, aged 44, and the arrest details (Section 72 and Section 50) and the GNDOCB search.
suspect, 35, malesuspect, 44, male - 14 Jun2024Gardaí dismantle Eastern European drug gang’s money laundering operation
Adds the GNDOCB operation details, the raid's counting machines and ledgers, the arrests of two men aged 35 and 44 on suspicion of facilitating an organised crime group, and their detention for questioning. Links the operation to an Eastern European drugs gang with reach across Ireland.
suspect, 35, malesuspect, 44, male - 14 Jun2024Is this what €1million looks like? - Gardai make massive seizure in Dublin raid
Only the headline is usable. The article body is unrendered search-template markup with no details of the seizure, the items, the value or any arrests.
- 13 Jun2024Court Appearance – GNDOCB – €1 Million Cash Seizure, Knocklyon, Dublin 16, 13th June 2024
Confirms the man charged is in his 30s, gives the court appearance time of 4pm on 15 June 2024 at Dublin District Court, and reports that a second individual was released without charge with a file to the DPP.
accused, 30s, malesuspect