[caption id="attachment_68222" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Al Capone."]
They got Al Capone on taxes and it's a lesson not lost on Ireland's Criminal Assets Bureau, or CAB
More than €3 million seized from criminals was handed over to the public purse in Ireland last year.
Another €11.5 million in assets were frozen after court orders were obtained by the Criminal Assets Bureau.
Launching the agency's annual report, Justice Minister Alan Shatter said the government was working on further strengthening the powers of the bureau.
"A review of the proceeds of crime legislation underpinning the operation of the bureau is continuing, with a view to concluding proposals which will give effect to this commitment," Shatter said.
The report shows €4 million in taxes and interest was collected during 2010 as a result of the bureau's work.
Social welfare savings amounted to more than €630,000 with €180,000 recovered.
Mr. Shatter said the bureau's model of confiscating the proceeds of crime without the need for a conviction was recognized internationally and he is lobbying for the same system to be applied Europe-wide.
"I believe such a measure will add real value to European co-operation in targeting the proceeds of crime," he said.
