A new unit has been established within the Garda's national drug squad to track the origins of large sums of money being seized with illicit drugs.
The move follows an increase in the amounts and frequency with which cash is being seized during drugs raids.
The Garda National Drugs Unit (GNDU) already works closely with the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) in sharing information on the assets of dealers.
However, the new unit will examine the origins of money found during raids with a view to making speedy follow-up arrests for either drugs offences or money laundering following drug and cash seizures. It was established two months ago.
Senior Garda sources have told The Irish Timesthere has been a significant increase this year in the number of confiscation orders being granted by the courts to gardaí in respect of money seized which is suspected of being the proceeds of drug dealing.
"We have had a fair few cases of young guys who would not be that well known who've been caught with drugs and large sums of money, so by looking at the money trail it will help us get a clear picture as to what's going on," said one source.
Many previously unknown young dealers have been caught with drugs and cash at checkpoints established under the Garda's Operation Anvil.
A small number of members of the GNDU have now been asked to investigate all cash seizures. Gardaí are anxious that the origins of all money seized should be closely studied in order that individuals involved in all levels of dealing come within the scope of their inquiries.
Any information gleaned from this line of inquiry will be used to make as many arrests as possible before being passed to the Cab for more substantial assets-based confiscation actions.
Meanwhile, two men were arrested in Cork and Dublin at the weekend following the seizure of drugs and cash with a combined value of more than €400,000.
In Dublin a 25-year-old man was arrested by gardaí from Pearse Street drugs unit following the seizure of cocaine, cannabis and cash. The operation was part of a wider investigation into the supply of drugs in the city centre.
The seizure was made during a house search in the Ringsend area on Saturday. Gardaí believe the drugs have an estimated street value of around €70,000. An estimated €6,500 in cash was also seized.
The arrested man was being held at Pearse Street Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
In Cork gardaí arrested a man at 8.45pm on Saturday on Lower Glanmire Road. The man, who is in his 40s, was found in possession of cocaine valued at some €350,000. The suspect was being held at Mayfield Garda station under Section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act.
