This article is from page 11 of the 2011-08-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
A PACKAGE containing € 207,000 in cash which was detained by Customs at Shannon Airport may be linked to a sweepstakes scam, a court heard yesterday.
The cash was detained in May of last year and Customs officers have since been given time to investigate the circumstances surrounding its discovery, after they made a number of applications before the district court.
The investigation is ongoing on an international scale.
A fresh application was made before Ennis District Court yesterday, where Customs sought an additional three months to investigate the case.
Patricia Smullen, an officer with the Revenue Commissioners, told the court that cash – which was in seven currencies – was seized on May 17, 2010.
“I have reasonable grounds to suspect the cash is criminally linked,” she told the court.
The court was told that the company which it is alleged owns the money claimed it was involved in mail marketing.
However Ms Smullen said this has not been supported.
She said it is believed the money may be linked to a “sweepstakes scam.”
She said that some of the written information obtained as part of the case – which was in Japanese – referred to winnings, when translated to English.
Ms Smullen said it was a “very complex case” and the investigation is ongoing in a number of jurisdictions.
Solicitor Caitriona Carmody told the court that she had previously represented a company in relation to this case, but she did not have any instructions for yesterday’s application by Customs.
Judge John O’Neill said he noted the evidence from Ms Smullen and granted the application “on the basis of the reasons outlined”; that it is a “complex” and “ongoing” matter. The extension was granted until November.
The court heard previously that Customs has sought details of the ownership, source and intended use of the cash and further time was required for this to be investigated. Enquiries have taken place in the UK, Australia and a number of other jurisdictions.
The package was detained by Customs officers, after an individual arrived in to the airport from The Netherlands on a private aircraft.