Two men arrested in Garda operation targeting prostitution and money laundering
Two men have been arrested as part of a Garda operation targeting an ogranised crime group suspected of being involved in organised prostitution and money laundering offences.
Searches took place across Dublin and the wider Eastern Region on Wednesday morning.
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The searches were conducted at several businesses and residential addresses in counties Dublin, Kildare and Meath.
Led by detectives from the Serious Crime Unit based at the Bridewell Garda Station in Dublin, this operation was supported by the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT), Garda National Protective Services Bureau, Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, Emergency Response Unit (ERU), Armed Support Unit (ASU), Garda Dog Unit as well as local teams from the Dublin North Central Crime functional areas.
The activity forms part of a broader effort by An Garda Síochána to target and dismantle organised crime groups that are benefitting from organised prostitution.
Two men have been arrested on foot of court bench warrants, and a third man is currently detained in relation to the sale and supply of controlled drugs.
Investigations are ongoing, gardaí said.
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A BBC Bargain Hunt art expert who failed to report a series of high-value art sales to a man suspected of financing militant group Hezbollah has been jailed for two-and-a-half years. Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53, sold artwork worth around £140,000 to Nazem Ahmad, a man designated by US authorities as a suspected financier for the Lebanese organisation. Ojiri, of Brent, north London, previously pleaded guilty to eight offences under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000. He is believed to be the first person to be charged with the specific offence. The art dealer, who has also appeared on the BBC's Antiques Road Trip, was charged with failing to disclose information about transactions in the regulated art market sector on or before dates between October 2020 and December 2021. US prosecutors say Mr Ahmad was a 'major Hezbollah financial donor' who used high-value art and diamonds to launder money and fund the group. 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Mr Irwin also said the defendant has lost his business, accepted that he had done wrong and wanted to 'apologise for undermining trust in the industry' and also to 'apologise for the distress that he has caused principally to those who know him, who love him, but also those who have supported him throughout his career'. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb sentenced Ojiri to two years and six months in prison at the Old Bailey on Friday, with a further year to be spent on licence. She told Ojiri he had been involved in a commercial relationship 'for prestige and profit', and that he had been 'seeking the kudos of dealing with an eminent name in the dealing world'. She added: 'You knew about Ahmad's suspected involvement in financing terrorism and the way the art market can be exploited by someone like him.' Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said that until these events he was 'someone to be admired' and added 'this is the nadir – there is one direction your life can go and I am confident that you will not be in front of the courts again.' The judge said the offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'The prosecution, using specific Terrorism Act legislation is the first of its kind, and should act as a warning to all art dealers that we can, and will, prosecute those who knowingly do business with people identified as funders of terrorist groups. 'Oghenochuko Ojiri wilfully obscured the fact he knew he was selling artwork to Nazem Ahmad, someone who has been sanctioned by the UK and US Treasury and described as a funder of the proscribed terrorist group Hizballah. 'Financial investigation is a crucial part of the counter terrorism effort. A team of specialist investigators, analysts and researchers in the NTFIU work all year round to prevent money from reaching the hands of terrorists or being used to fund terrorist attacks.' Bethan David, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, said: 'It is clear that Oghenochuko Ojiri was aware of new money laundering regulations in the art world and that he had knowledge of Nazem Ahmad's background. 'Ojiri engaged in activity designed to conceal the identity of the true purchaser by changing the details on invoices and storing Mr Ahmad's name under a different alias in his mobile phone. 'His motivation appears to be financial along with a broader desire to boost his gallery's reputation within the art market by dealing with such a well-known collector.' Ojiri has appeared on a number of BBC shows including Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip. He described himself as 'absolutely obsessed' with collecting contemporary art in a BBC Q&A. He has previously worked as an auctioneer and is known for championing African and European contemporary art. Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political and militant group based in Lebanon, backed by Iran and known for its armed resistance against Israel. In the UK, the entire organisation – both its military and political wings – has been banned as a terrorist group since 2019.
