ORGANIZED CRIME IN IRELAND (C-CN5-00417)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 001196

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2014
TAGS: PINR PREL PTER
SUBJECT: ORGANIZED CRIME IN IRELAND (C-CN5-00417)

REF: SECSTATE 146246

Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF MARY DALY, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B),(D)


1. (C) Summary. It is unlikely that there is large scale
involvement of non-nationals in organized crime activities in
the Republic of Ireland. According to the EU's 2004
Organized Crime Report, Ireland is unique in that its
organized criminal elements are comprised almost entirely of
Irish nationals, most of whom are known to each other. Any
involvement they may have with foreign criminals is suspected
of taking place outside of the country. End summary.


2. (C) The following answers are keyed to reftel questions:


A. Are there organized crime groups present in the host
country that originated in the following countries?

Russia, Ukraine, Italy, The Balkans (Albania, Serbia,
Bosnia),Japan, Greater China (China, Hong Kong, Macau, or
Taiwan),or West Africa? What is the extent or nature of
their presence?

--According to Criminal Assets Bureau Detective Inspector
Denis O'Leary, if there is any organized criminal activity in
Ireland of Ukrainian, Russian, Chinese, and Nigerian
nationals, it would likely take place in terms of involvement
in their respective ethnic migrant communities. Irish
nationals are the primary suspects in organized crime in
Ireland. According to the 2004 European Union Organized
Crime Report (EUOCR),non-Irish involvement occurs mainly
outside of Ireland, principally with contacts of Irish
criminals living abroad.


B. What types of criminal activity are these groups engaged
in? What is the economic impact of the criminal activity?

--There is little evidence that these groups operate in
Ireland. However, it is suspected that domestic groups may
network with foreign organizations abroad to source narcotics
for Ireland.

--According to the EUOCR, domestic organized crime groups
engage primarily in drug trafficking, and to a lesser extent,
cigarettes. The most common types of drugs smuggled into
Ireland are cocaine, heroin, and cannabis. The main suspects
in the smuggling of cannabis and cocaine are Irish nationals
residing in Spain. Likewise, Irish nationals residing in the
UK are suspected of organizing the heroin trade into the
Republic. Ecstasy, another drug on the rise, is sourced
mainly through Irish criminals residing in Holland.

--According to O'Leary and Gerardine Rowley of Ruhama (an NGO
involved in the rehabilitation of prostitutes and victims of
trafficking) there is anecdotal evidence that the
above-mentioned foreign groups operate in Ireland. These
groups are suspected of having low-scale involvement in human
trafficking, but there has yet to be a successful linkage to
these groups in such cases.


C. What front companies do the groups use? What
relationship, if any, is there between the criminal groups
listed above and crime groups indigenous to the host country?
Are there indications that the groups listed above cooperate
with each other or other international criminals?

The EU Organized Crime Report suggests that Ireland is unique
among European countries, in that organized crime elements in
Ireland are Irish, know each other and cooperate in efforts,
therefore creating a monopoly.


D. Are there indications of links or connections between
these groups and terrorist organizations in the host country?

There are no indications that these groups play a prominent
role in Ireland. The IRA, the Continuity IRA (CIRA),and the
Real IRA (RIRA) are terrorist groups. However, the IRA
announced July 28, 2005 that it would lay down its arms. On
September 26, the Independent International Commission on
Decommissioning confirmed the IRA had put its arsenal of
weapons, explosives and ammunition beyond use. Each of these
groups is suspected of being heavily involved in organized
crime. Any connection to the above-mentioned foreign groups
is tenuous and would suggest associations outside of Ireland.



E. Is there evidence of corrupt relationships between these
groups and host country businessmen or government officials?
What is the nature of these relationships? If possible,
please provide examples of these crime groups coercing
business or government officials.

There is no evidence of corrupt relationships between the
foreign organized crime groups mentioned in para A and Irish
businessmen or officials.
KENNY