Thirty members of an Irish Traveller’s crime network have been arrested in eight countries across Europe. Known as the “Rathkeale Rovers,” Europol believe they are involved in counterfeit products, tarmac fraud, robbery, money laundering and drug trafficking across the Americas, Asia and Australia.
As well as the 30 arrested, the Europe-wide investigation ended with $12 million (€9m) worth of tax demands on nine of the key members of the group.
The group, made up of several Traveller families is described by Europol, the EU police agency, as a “highly organized crime group.”
Read more: Irish Traveller crime gang targeted in US over stolen rhino horns
The operation, codenamed “Oakleaf,” was set up in November 2010, when Irish police sought Europol’s expertise in gathering data on the gang across Europe.
Europol director Rob Wainwright told the Institute of International and European Affairs in Dublin that the gang was comprised of “several close-knit clans." The groups had set up companies all over Europe to "legitimize and cover" their illegal activities.
Wainwright said they then laundered their illegal, undeclared income into new luxury cars and other assets in Ireland.
Read more: Police in Ohio city warn of Irish Travelers invasion
8 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.anglo-norman | Feb 14, 2013, 05:05 PM EST
These 'Travellers" were how the Irish were before the anglo-normans & the Tudor Irish came to civilize Ireland.
dallas75216 | Jan 17, 2013, 04:03 PM EST
They should get jobs on Wall street. Their talents would be put to good use at Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs and whomever is left. Trillions lost on junk derivatives and no one goes to jail.
Curitiba | Jan 17, 2013, 02:12 AM EST
How are they getting into Australia? Australia's immigration system revolves around you having a particular skill or profession. I am not aware of there being a tarmac drive visa.
Smyrnian | Jan 16, 2013, 04:08 PM EST
I am totally shocked to read this. Unbelievable!
IrelandNorth | Jan 16, 2013, 02:48 PM EST
Cromwell's diaspora! Descendants of those who went to hell, because they wouldn't go to Connacht. Travellers are retraceable to the defeated Irishry in the 17th century. As Bill Cosbie said on Oprah in another context: "Hurt people hurt other people!" Or people do unto others as was done unto them. Travellers have a lot of exploitation to compensate for over the centuries.
howareya | Jan 16, 2013, 11:18 AM EST
Well, the Travellers have certainly evloved from the "Tinkers" that used to steal my granny's chickens!
bobby | Jan 16, 2013, 10:09 AM EST
@Schlomo what a load of Bull from you. You never fail with the amount of crap that comes from your trap. Idiot.
Schlomo | Jan 16, 2013, 09:46 AM EST
The Garda Siacohana and the Irish courts will never cooperate with europole on the traveller thieves. Why? Because the "racist" card will be played and the Irish will defend the travellers by refusing to divulge any pertinent information and even going as far as using taxpayer monies to defend the blanant crooks. Mark my words, that's how the Irich collective cultural mind-set works.