Criminal Assets Bureau

The role of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is to confiscate, freeze or seize criminal assets. Its work also includes ensuring that criminal proceeds are subjected to tax and investigation, and determining the eligibility of claims for social welfare benefits or assistance by criminals or suspected criminals. 

The CAB was established by Government in August 1996. It is a statutory body, with staff drawn from the Gardaí, the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The Chief State Solicitor provides the necessary legal support services to the bureau. The annual reports of the CAB provide more detailed information on the work carried out by the organisation. See the bureau's most recent annual report - Criminal Assets Bureau Annual Report 2007 (PDF - 318KB).

In 2008, the bureau trebled the number of asset profilers working in Garda Divisions all over the country, and a further 11 profilers have been trained for the Revenue Commissioners. Ten additional staff have been appointed to the bureau, including two additional financial crime analysts. Over the last two years, the bureau has undertaken a policy shift and now includes the assets of more middle-ranking criminals as priority targets, as well as the assets of top-level criminals.