The European policing agency Europol has said an Irish crime gang is a key player in the illegal trade in rhino horns globally.
The gang is based in Ireland but has contacts around the world and is active in countries as far apart as China and Australia. It is made up of Irish criminals and foreign gang members living here.
The gang has been stealing rhino horns, which fetch up to €200,000 each, from museums, zoos, antique dealers, private collectors and art galleries.
Some of the thefts have involved gang robberies in which the victims were threatened with weapons.
After the horns have been stolen they have been smuggled across world borders and sold in auction houses in the UK, France, USA and China.
Europol and the Garda believe the Irish-based gang with international reach have also been active in a large range of crime types including: drug trafficking, money laundering, armed robbery and the production of false documents.
Security bulletins have been sent by Europol to international police forces alerting them to the gang’s activities and urging them to warn those who may have rhino horns to be aware of the crime syndicate.