Almost £2m Recovered By Organised Crime Task Force

Almost £2 million of suspected criminal assets have been recovered as a result of the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF), the latest Annual Report and Threat Assessment has revealed.

The latest report published today showed a "marked increase" in the success of the fight against organised crime groups operating in Northern Ireland.

Compared to last year, the seizure of illegal drugs is up by almost 24% and the number of Organised Crime Groups dismantled, frustrated, or disrupted has increased by around 42%. Working together, OCTF partners also helped rescue 36 potential victims of modern slavery and overall recovered £1.9m of criminal assets.

Launching the report, Anthony Harbinson, Department of Justice Director of Safer Communities, commended the work of the OCTF partner agencies: "The operational successes highlighted this year speak for themselves; 183 Organised Crime Groups dismantled, frustrated, or disrupted; almost 7,000 separate drugs seizures; 36 potential victims of modern slavery recovered from exploitation; and almost £2 million of criminal assets recovered from convicted offenders and reinvested for the benefit of local communities.

"Significant progress is also being made in protecting individuals and businesses against cybercrime. The new purpose-built PSNI Cyber Crime Centre is just one addition which will help enhance the PSNI's forensic and investigative capabilities.

"Ultimately, to end the harm that is caused by organised crime and paramilitarism we need a whole-societal response. I call on everyone to play their role in making Northern Ireland a safe place where we respect the law and each other by reporting crime and suspicious activity to the police."

The Report also highlights the determination of statutory agencies and departments to respond to the risks posed by economic crime and to disrupt organised crime through the recovery of criminal assets under proceeds of crime legislation. Since the establishment of the PSNI's Asset Confiscation and Enforcement (ACE) Team in 2017, there has been a 150% rise in the number of PSNI restraints put in place and a 50% increase in the number of PSNI Confiscation Orders granted by the Courts.

OCTF partner agencies include: Department of Justice, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Public Prosecution Service, An Garda Síochána, Immigration Enforcement, Border Force, National Crime Agency, Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs, UK Modern Slavery Human Trafficking Centre (NCA), Department for Communities, NI Environment Agency and Trading Standards.

(MH/CM)