Gardaí attached to the Dublin Metropolitan Region Divisional Crime Task Force, seize 300 catalytic converters during a search operation in Dublin, Ireland.
According to the Irish Times, ‘It is the second significant seizure of its kind in recent months, and is valued at about €150,000 and weighs in at 1,275kg. The latest find comes after the discovery of 100 converters in another Garda raid on premises in Co Meath last February.
Gardaí have stepped up their response to this type of theft as the crime has soared, mostly in Dublin, over the last two years.
In the latest operation, gardaí recovered the converters after searching a property in St Margaret’s, north Co Dublin, on Wednesday (14th April).
The search was carried out by Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) Divisional Crime Task Force and was based on intelligence gathered during recent investigations.’
The force said that:
“Gardaí attached to the Dublin Metropolitan Region Divisional Crime Task Force seized 300 catalytic converters during a search operation in Co. Dublin yesterday morning, (Wednesday 14th April, 2021).
At approximately 10 am yesterday morning, Gardaí attached to the DMR Divisional Crime Task Force searched a business premises in St. Margarets, Co. Dublin under warrant. They were assisted by personnel from the Ballymun Garda station, Fingal County Council Staff and a Customs and Revenue Officer and dog handler.
The search was conducted as part of the ongoing investigation into the theft of catalytic converters throughout the Dublin Metropolitan Region and subsequent regions.
During the course of the search operation, Gardaí seized 300 catalytic converters weighing a total of 1275kg and an estimated value of €150,000 were seized under Section 7 Criminal Justice Act 2006. All items seized are subject to a technical examination. A vehicle entered the premises which had no tax or insurance and was subsequently seized under Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act.”
Sources: www.garda.ie www.irishtimes.com
