30/09/2005

Glengormley couple have £200k assets frozen

Belfast High Court has frozen assets worth £200,000 following an investigation by the Assets Recovery Agency into the affairs of a married couple in Glengormley.

The Assets Recovery Agency has been granted an interim receiving order on assets belonging to Henry Hayles of Glenwell Avenue and his wife, Lauziata, after it was alleged that Mr Hayles has been involved in organised crime, including cash delivery van robberies, drug trafficking and firearms offences.

He is also alleged to have links with loyalist and republican paramilitaries, however, there are no allegations that he is involved in any paramilitary activity.

The assets frozen by the agency are: a property at Glenwell Avenue, Glengormley; a property in Florida; a Nissan Terrano; a Volkswagen Golf; a Renault Clio and a bank account in the name of Mrs Hayles.

Commenting on the case, as well as two separate others brought before court in September, Security Minister and Chair of the Organised Crime Task Force, Shaun Woodward, said: "These cases demonstrate the range of activities that organised criminals engage in. They also demonstrate the superb multi-agency partnerships that our law enforcement agencies have established.

"These partnerships extend across the border with the Republic of Ireland too and we will continue to work collectively to tackle organised criminals and take their profits."

(MB/SP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

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.
08 July 2009
International Operation Nets Cigarettes
There is news today of continued successes on both sides of the Irish border and in England to counter the smuggling of cigarettes. Customs officers have seized 8.5m smuggled cigarettes in Belfast with staff from the UK Border Agency uncovering the haul of Regal King Size cigarettes.
19 June 2008
Cross Border Team To Tackle Fuel Faudsters
Law enforcement agencies from both Northern Ireland and the Republic are to establish a new cross-border group to tackle fuel fraud. The joining of forces will provide a new approach to combat the multi-million pound illegal business.
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.
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.