News
Fight against organised crime relentless - Goggins
Date Posted: Thursday 19 June 2008
Over £35m of criminal assets has been seized, frozen or disrupted during the last year by the law enforcement agencies, chairman of the Organised Crime Task Force Paul Goggins MP has announced.
Launching the OCTF Annual Report and Threat Assessment, the minister also revealed that the number of cash in transit robberies has been halved and over £4m worth of illegal drugs seized during the past year.
Paul Goggins congratulated the law enforcement agencies on their successes against organised crime and vowed that the fight will continue.
He said: "The annual report and threat assessment shows that the fight against organised crime is relentless.
"Where we can we will bring those in organised crime before the courts. However, if this is not possible, we will strip them of their assets and take away the trappings of wealth obtained through criminal activity.
"There must be no hiding place and I am pleased that the law enforcement agencies are enjoying success in this fight against organised crime. Over the past year they have disrupted over £35m of criminal assets that would have been used to fund illegal drugs and other serious crime that threatens our community.
"The partner agencies, working together have reduced the number of cash-in-transit robberies by over 56% and taken over £4m of illegal drugs off our streets.
"The OCTF will continue to take the fight against organised crime in Northern Ireland to the door steps of criminals who think they can disregard the law."
The launch was also used to put on display some of the many resources available to the multi-agency fighting group, including a HMRC Cutter, PSNI helicopter and a range of tools available in the fight against organised crime.
Paul Goggins said: "We have some impressive examples here today of the tools of the trade that our partner agencies use in the fight against organised crime. Resources that help us take the fight to the criminals whenever and wherever they try and put themselves above the law.
"Important as they are, our most crucial resource is the partnership that exists between Government agencies, business and the wider community. The OCTF will continue to provide a strong focus for that partnership."
