SHOCKING: Gardaí reveal large sum of cash lodged to the Irish Exchequer in a single month

An Garda Síochána has lodged in excess of €3 million in cash to the Irish Exchequer this month alone.

The cash which was lodged through the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) was forfeited to the State at conclusion of criminal proceedings and gardaí have described it as "the lifeblood of serious criminal activity mainly drug trafficking."

In a social media post accompanied by photos of the cash, gardaí said: "Ultimately, each note was either directly or indirectly destined for personal gain and enjoyment of those at the top levels of transnational organised crime groups."

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Since the GNDOCB's establishment in 2015, it has returned more than €20 million to the State at the conclusion of criminal proceedings.

Gardaí said: "Every person who hands over cash for the purchase of illegal drugs should know that their action is directly linked to the human misery and carnage caused by criminality and supporting the lifestyle of persons at the highest levels in transnational organised crime groups."