01/03/2004
Assets Recovery Agency seizes £500,000
Northern Ireland's Assets Recovery Agency (ASA) has seized more than £500,000 in two separate cases, one involving drug dealing, and another involving a fuel smuggling and laundering operation.
The agency, which applied to the High Court in Belfast to freeze assets, is believed to have seized the money from loyalist drug dealers, and a south Armagh fuel smuggling and laundering operation.
The Armagh seizure was a joint operation with counterparts in the Republic of Ireland.
Welcoming the news, Security Minister Jane Kennedy, said: "The Assets Recovery Agency hit the ground running just 12 months ago and has enjoyed unprecedented success in stripping criminals of the profits from their crimes.
"I congratulate the Agency on freezing another £560,000. I am also delighted to see that one of these cases involved close co-operation with the Criminal Assets Bureau in Dublin resulting in action taken on both sides of the border. This sends a clear message to criminals that there is no hiding place."
Ms Kennedy, who is also Chair of the Organised Crime Taskforce, confirmed that the ASA is currently dealing with 19 live investigations, with combined assets of around £8 million.
In six of these cases the Agency has been successful in freezing or pursuing through taxation assets to the value of almost £2.75 million.
(MB)
The agency, which applied to the High Court in Belfast to freeze assets, is believed to have seized the money from loyalist drug dealers, and a south Armagh fuel smuggling and laundering operation.
The Armagh seizure was a joint operation with counterparts in the Republic of Ireland.
Welcoming the news, Security Minister Jane Kennedy, said: "The Assets Recovery Agency hit the ground running just 12 months ago and has enjoyed unprecedented success in stripping criminals of the profits from their crimes.
"I congratulate the Agency on freezing another £560,000. I am also delighted to see that one of these cases involved close co-operation with the Criminal Assets Bureau in Dublin resulting in action taken on both sides of the border. This sends a clear message to criminals that there is no hiding place."
Ms Kennedy, who is also Chair of the Organised Crime Taskforce, confirmed that the ASA is currently dealing with 19 live investigations, with combined assets of around £8 million.
In six of these cases the Agency has been successful in freezing or pursuing through taxation assets to the value of almost £2.75 million.
(MB)
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10 September 2003
Agency freezes £1.5m in criminal assets
Over £1.5 million worth of assets belonging to a murdered loyalist have been frozen by the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), Security Minister Jane Kennedy announced today. A receiver has been appointed to take control of, and manage the assets of, dead loyalist Jim Johnston, who was shot dead at his Co Down home in May.
Agency freezes £1.5m in criminal assets
Over £1.5 million worth of assets belonging to a murdered loyalist have been frozen by the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), Security Minister Jane Kennedy announced today. A receiver has been appointed to take control of, and manage the assets of, dead loyalist Jim Johnston, who was shot dead at his Co Down home in May.
22 October 2004
Assets Recovery Agency freezes NI companies' assets
The Assets Recovery Agency has frozen more than £300,000 worth of assets from three registered Northern Ireland companies, and others in England and Spain. The agency also secured High Court orders against three members of one family from the Carrickfergus area named as Albert, Jessica and Paul Baxter.
Assets Recovery Agency freezes NI companies' assets
The Assets Recovery Agency has frozen more than £300,000 worth of assets from three registered Northern Ireland companies, and others in England and Spain. The agency also secured High Court orders against three members of one family from the Carrickfergus area named as Albert, Jessica and Paul Baxter.
29 September 2004
Assets Recovery Agency freeze £300k worth of property
Northern Ireland’s Assets Recovery Agency has frozen an estimated £300,000 worth of property following a court order. A range of properties and other assets believed to belong to a gang were frozen after a series of orders were granted by the High Court.
Assets Recovery Agency freeze £300k worth of property
Northern Ireland’s Assets Recovery Agency has frozen an estimated £300,000 worth of property following a court order. A range of properties and other assets believed to belong to a gang were frozen after a series of orders were granted by the High Court.
25 March 2004
Assets Recovery Agency targets drug dealing property
Northern Ireland's Assets Recovery Agency has taken its first step in seizing a property in Co Londonderry which it believes is being used for drug dealing. The Agency has successfully applied to the High Court in Belfast for an Interim Receiving Order (IRO) in respect of property in the Limavady area.
Assets Recovery Agency targets drug dealing property
Northern Ireland's Assets Recovery Agency has taken its first step in seizing a property in Co Londonderry which it believes is being used for drug dealing. The Agency has successfully applied to the High Court in Belfast for an Interim Receiving Order (IRO) in respect of property in the Limavady area.
25 November 2004
House sale ensures crime does not pay - Pearson
The home of a murdered loyalist paramilitary leader which was seized by the Assets Recovery Agency has been auctioned for £410,000. The auction of Jim Johnston's house follows September’s High Court order to seize the cash and property assets worth more than £1 million from the former drug dealer.
House sale ensures crime does not pay - Pearson
The home of a murdered loyalist paramilitary leader which was seized by the Assets Recovery Agency has been auctioned for £410,000. The auction of Jim Johnston's house follows September’s High Court order to seize the cash and property assets worth more than £1 million from the former drug dealer.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.