An official of the Revenue Commissioners has been arrested in connection with an alleged scam involving the motor trade.
Gardaí and customs officers searched 30 homes, car sales showrooms and accountants and solicitors offices as part of a criminal investigation into tax irregularities in the motor trade.
40 luxury cars, including Bentleys, Range Rovers and Mercedes in five Dublin garages have been detained by customs officers checking VRT payments.
The official was arrested in Finglas and is being questioned at Blanchardstown Garda Station.
A 9mm handgun was also found in one of the warehouses connected to a car showroom.
The Criminal Assets Bureau's Operation Tie was set up to investigate revenue irregularities and profits deriving from criminal activity in the motor trade.
It has long suspected car salesmen of importing high spec cars but only paying VRT on them at the basic rate, keeping between €5000 and €20,000 per car
Between 6am and 9am this morning CAB officers, customs officials and gardaí from the Organised Crime Unit searched 30 houses, garages and accountants and solicitors offices.
They took away a large amount of documentation and computer discs.
Up to 40 cars including Bentley's, Range Rovers and Mercedes were detained as Customs Officers checked VRT payments.
A 9mm handgun was found in one of the garages.
One man in his 50s was arrested and is currently detained at Blanchardstown Garda Station.
He has worked in the Revenue Commissioners for more than 30 years and gardaí believe he is the inside man, who processed the fraudulent VRT returns on behalf of the car dealers
