Minister Jim O’Callaghan publishes Criminal Assets Bureau Annual Report for 2024
- Published on: 5 November 2025
- Last updated on: 13 November 2025
Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, has published the latest Annual Report from the Criminal Assets Bureau.
The Criminal Assets Bureau continues to deny and deprive people of the proceeds of criminal conduct. For 2024, more than €17.052 million was returned to the Exchequer due to their work.
The Bureau sold twenty forfeited properties by 2024, the highest number sold in any one year. One of these properties was sold for €931,000, one of the highest sales prices ever achieved for any one asset.
Publishing the Annual Report, Minister O’Callaghan said:
“I commend the Criminal Assets Bureau for another successful year, as is outlined in its 2024 Annual Report. Returning over €17 million to the exchequer is a significant achievement.
"The positive role of the Criminal Assets Bureau in tackling crime cannot be overstated. We know that depriving criminals of the proceeds of criminal activity is an effective tool in building safer communities.
"I also want to recognise the range of agencies and bodies who work with the Bureau. An Garda Síochána is a vital partner, as are the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social Protection. The Bureau also continued its engagement with the Cross Border Joint Agency Task Force and with the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Cooperation is crucial in constraining the operations of those who intend on doing harm, to our communities."
Last week, Minister O’Callaghan announced the allocation of over €4 million to Community Safety projects across the country. This fund redistributes the proceeds of crime back into local communities. 42 projects will be funded through the Community Safety Fund, which is almost double the number of projects supported through the first allocation from this fund in 2022.
Minister O’Callaghan continued:
“The Criminal Assets Bureau’s excellent work allows us to help communities which have been harmed by criminality.
"I want to see more funds being redirected from the hands of criminals into communities where that money can do good. That is why I am progressing legislation which will strengthen the State’s ability to identify, freeze, and confiscate assets linked to serious and organised crime.
"The Proceeds of Crime Bill is making its way through the Oireachtas currently. Once passed into law, the Criminal Assets Bureau will have stronger investigative powers and will be able to dispose of assets much more quickly than is currently the case. I am committed to ensuring that the Criminal Assets Bureau have the powers and resources to continue their important work.”
Some of the Bureau’s other key achievements of the year included:
- 46 search operations conducted, consisting of 227 individual searches in 13 counties
- 21 new cases commenced under the Proceeds of Crime Act during 2024
- submission of 30 new Proceeds of Crime files to the Criminal Asset Section of the Chief State Solicitor’s Office for progression through the courts
- the Bureau held its second publicly advertised online auction which received global interest, realising in excess of €216k
Notes
The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime in this jurisdiction and disrupting the activities of criminal gangs by depriving them of ill-gotten assets.
The Bureau has staff drawn from An Garda Síochána, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (including Customs), the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Justice.