Andrew Carey
BROTHELS in Limerick, Clare as well as apartments, flats and houses suspected of being used for the purposes of illegal prostitution have been searched by garda as part of a crackdown and disruption of organised crime in Ireland.
Locations throughout the country including the Mid West, Letterkenny, Dundalk, Clonmel, Waterford, Cavan, Mullingar, Limerick, Ballina, Ennis, Newbridge and Cork along with 11 premises in the Dublin area have been targeted by the Organised Crime Unit during the six-month operation.
The two-day operation of searches follows a six month long investigation by the unit into the activities of a criminal group involved in organised prostitution, brothel keeping and other associated criminal activity.
The operation was conducted in close co-operation with Europol as part of an initiative targeting mobile organised crime groups active throughout Europe.
A total of 22 premises, which include apartments, flats and houses at the locations in were searched where more than 60 Gardai were involved.
The purpose of this search operation was to gather evidence in order to advance the investigation. Evidence of suspected prostitution activity was detected at a number these locations. During the searches Gardai seized documentation, mobile phones, computers and money.
A number of women present at these locations were interviewed by Gardai and have been offered support and advice.
As part of the investigation a male aged in his 30s was arrested during the search of an apartment in Swords on suspicion of money laundering and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at Ballymun Garda Station.
The entire findings of the investigation will be compiled for a file to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Investigating Gardai say they will continue to work with Ruhama and other agencies in support of women found in these locations and will treat women who work in this area as witnesses unless there is significant evidence to suggest that they are directly involved in organising prostitution or brothel keeping.
