School students as young as 16 are among dozens of suspected money mules, identified in a garda investigation in south Kerry.
Gardaí said Operation Mullet, investigating the laundering of €1.3 million in the county, has led to 32 prosecutions.
The Kerryman newspaper reported that up to 60 suspected "money mules" have been identified.
Those suspected are between the ages of 16 and 20.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Detective Sergeant Ernie Henderson, of the Divisional Crime Unit in Kerry, said: "The sums range from person to person and account to account. Some students would have handed over more than one account."
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Det Sgt Henderson said the accounts could hold up to €65,000 in stolen money.
He said money mules are asked to hand over their bank account details and are offered "around 10% to 15%" of what is put into the account.
Det Sgt Henderson said the accounts are used to launder money stolen from phishing and skimming scams.
Some people are recruited through social media apps like Instagram or Snapchat, he said, but the investigation in Co Kerry found one person was recruited by a person known to them and living in the area.
Det Sgt Henderson advised anyone who is pressured to give over bank account details to "not give passwords".
He also said that anyone convicted of money laundering could have difficulties getting visas for other countries including J1 visas to the United States.
He said that those people involved, particularly the person who recruited the students, would be dealt with through organised crime legislation, adding that this was "groundbreaking" for Co Kerry as they do not have a lot of crime gang investigations based in the county.
He said that 32 of the 50 or more students involved in the greater Tralee area have been prosecuted in the District and Circuit court, but there are a number still before the court awaiting sentence.
He warned against handing over bank accounts, saying it was key not to give login details or passwords. If people have, he said, they should change the passwords and try to undo the work.
He explained that the local gardaí have responded and in the next two weeks will be running a new campaign with credit unions in Co Kerry.
