A SERVING garda was under arrest last night as part of an investigation into money-laundering and an alleged fraud involving stolen and imported cars.
One strand of the investigation is the man's alleged role in giving financial advice to others engaged in the laundering of large sums of money stolen in robberies of ATM machines.
The investigation is being led by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the force's serious crimes squad. It also involves Garda money-laundering specialists, members of the bureau's stolen car unit, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and local gardaí.
During a search of a house in the southeast yesterday, motorbikes and cars were found. At least one of the cars had been stolen and imported. The origin and legal status of the other vehicles was being checked last night.
The search team also found a large quantity of imported wine, computers and blank stamped Garda certificates. Many of the certs were of the type used for taxing vehicles and formally recording changes of ownership.
Gardaí suspect the documents were being sold to others who were using them to facilitate the apparent legal registration of stolen or illegally imported vehicles.
The man under arrest last night is a rank-and-file garda with a lengthy service in the force.
Gardaí believe the officer has been engaged in a range of illegal activity for at least five years. He is under suspicion for allegedly facilitating and advising criminals who carried out offences. However, he is not suspected of involvement in those primary offences.
Sources said while it appeared the garda was working with criminals mainly from the southeast, the investigating team was also exploring possible links with criminals in other regions.
A Garda statement on the case noted: "As part as an ongoing investigation into criminal activity over a number of years, gardaí in Wexford, supported by national units, including the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, undertook a search of a private dwelling in the New Ross area early this morning. The search is currently ongoing.
"During the course of the search a man, aged 50 years, was arrested and is currently detained at New Ross Garda station under the provisions of Section 30, Offences Against the State Act. The arrested man is a serving member of An Garda Síochána and has been suspended from duty."
The suspect was being questioned in relation to withholding information about the workings of a larger criminal network.
Gardaí believe he may be associated with criminals who were laundering money from ATM robberies in which complete ATM machines were simply pulled from walls and driven away to be emptied by criminals.
The garda has been suspended pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.
His arrest followed the gathering of a large amount of intelligence in recent months by the investigating team. He has been under surveillance for a period.