Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress being made by Operation Oak; the number of Garda personnel involved; the successes to date of the operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34144/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that Operation Oak commenced in November 2005 under the direction of a Detective Chief Superintendent at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation who was tasked with targeting a person suspected of being involved in organised criminal activity, and his associates. The subject of this investigation was considered at that time to be a senior figure in an organised criminal group, and his suspected activities included armed robbery, the importation and distribution of drugs and firearms, theft of vehicles, tax evasion, etc.

This was a joint operation involving personnel from various sections of An Garda Síochána within National Support Services and other National and Divisional Units. Given the numbers of units involved since 2005, it would not be possible, without the expenditure of an inordinate amount of time and resources, to attribute precise figures to the numbers of Garda personnel involved.

As a result of the operation, twenty eight key members of this organised criminal group were arrested, charged, and brought before the courts, with a number of them receiving lengthy prison sentences. The remainder are awaiting trial for serious offences, including attempted robbery, possession of firearms and the importation and sale / supply of illegal drugs. The operation also resulted in the seizure of substantial quantities of illegal drugs and firearms, cash, and stolen vehicles.

Property linked to the target of this operation has also been seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau, while other members of this organised crime group continue to be targeted under ongoing initiatives against those suspected of being involved in organised criminal activity.